Remember the popular barn jacket style that dominated every high street store last year? Well, to our pleasant surprise, the coveted style has made an upgraded return for 2026. Naturally, you may be wondering if revamping the classic heritage style is possible, but in a surprising turn of events, Uniqlo has made the spring jacket look incredibly fresh and brand new this season.
Much like a plethora of other barn jackets on the market, the Zip Up Short Jacket has nailed the workwear-rooted design. Featuring the quintessential contrasting corduroy collar, oversized patch pockets, and a typical boxy fit, the jacket nails every feature of the classic style endorsed by both high end and high street brands.
But the reason why it struck me as an upgrade on the standard version comes courtesy of its cut. Unlike many other workwear styles, the jacket comes cropped, or at least shortened, tapping into one of the key trends of the season, championed by the likes of Chloé and Loewe.
Now, don't feel intimidated by the word 'cropped', as this jacket is unisex, so it still comes slightly oversized, with the silhouette ending at the hips. I agree - at first glance, I thought it was set to come up quite short, despite my affiliation for shorter outerwear styles. Yet, as soon as I tried it on, I noticed it fit perfectly, complementing the slightly higher-waisted, barrel-leg jean style I was wearing that day.
But its brilliance isn't just down to cosmetics, as the jacket is incredibly practical for the unpredictable weather forecasts reigning over spring. Crafted from lightweight cotton, the jacket works as an excellent in between season staple that will keep you protected from crisp breezes without being so heavyweight that you’ll end up overheating by noon.
