Fashion's adoption of workwear arrived with a range of signature silhouettes and staples. Most of these staples are now found in your average fashion fan's wardrobe, with most unknowingly sporting workwear heritage. The following items are some of workwear's most recognised items.
Chore Coats - Often characterised by large front pockets and button closure, chore coats are a stylish outerwear alternative, perfect for layering or wearing atop a T-Shirt . Typically made from twill or canvas, chore coats are hard-wearing and typically age nicely when exposed to general wear and tear. Today, Carhartt's WIP iteration is possible the most well-known on the market due to its fair price point and its timeless appearance.
Overshirts - Overshirts, or "shackets" to some, fall somewhere between your average shirt and jacket. These pieces offer a stylish mid-layer alternative to your standard crewneck sweatshirt or hoodie , as well as some classic blue-collar styling. There are currently thousands of overshirts on the market, but workwear heritage brands such as Dickies seem to do some of the best, all at a fair price.
Denim Jackets & Denim Jeans - As we're all aware, denim is very durable and heavy-duty for the most part, so it might not come as any surprise that both denim jackets and jeans have a long and storied history in workwear. Levi's, for one, has a direct link to workwear, with its initial beginnings linking back to the California gold rush in 1853. Since this point, Levi's has created workwear for both the casual dressing person as well as blue-collar workers.
Chinos - While many of us will think back to the Topman era of chinos circa 2008, these now common fashion items got their start way before this as workwear staples. Dickes to this date do one of the most famous iterations with its signature 874 pant. These pants arrive with a ridgid construction with a wrinkle resistant fabric, meaning they rarely need ironing.
Overalls - Probably the item most associated with workwear on this list are overalls. Arriving in both dungaree and boiler suit styles, overalls are a classic workwear staple that has been both embraced by streetwear as well general fashion. While your obvious workwear heritage brands such as Dickies and Carhartt still produce these pieces, other unlikely labels such as Supreme have also been known to produce them as part of their seasonal offerings.
Work Boots - Naturally, it wasn't just the clothing inherited as part of the workwear trend, but the footwear also. Work boots have been embraced by fashion for years now due to their robust and rugged appearance. Some of the most well-known work boot brands include the likes of Red Wing, Danner, Dr. Martens and more. These boots are a staple for the months and pair well with jeans and the right pair of chinos.
