Barbour Jackets Make the Perfect Gender-Neutral Holiday Gift

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As a shopping editor who has spent nearly 11 years in the industry, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I’d never heard of Barbour before meeting my boyfriend, Nick. I just always thought he looked really good in that waxed green jacket he always wore. When his brother started to beg him for a trade off, I started to do some research and found myself scrolling endlessly on the British brand’s site. From menswear to womenswear (and even dog-wear), I wanted everything.

While Barbour is most famously known for its legacy in appealing to adventure seekers who enjoy the outdoors and want to look polished — particularly in the form of its waxed collection — the label has expanded to all forms of outerwear, footwear, accessories, and apparel. And because of its gender-neutral design elements, it’s truly the perfect holiday gift.

Barbour jackets are modular, too. You can add or remove lining or a hood depending on the level of warmth you need, and they even look good layered if you settle for a lightweight option. When Nick and I had the chance to try two new styles, we settled on the Porton in olive ($540), a piece from the Barbour x Baracuta collaboration, and the Nora in dark moss ($350), which is a utility-inspired coat with a cropped, boxy fit and D-ring fixture at the chest that specifically appealed to me.

My attraction to the abbreviated length came as no surprise to Barbour’s head of womenswear Nicola Brown, who shared some predictions for 2025: “We anticipate more of an interest toward our cropped contemporary styles like the Transport and the Spey. Both have ties to our archive based on the design, and the customer is responding to both the story and the fit,” she says. “The future for Barbour is exciting, but at the heart is the brand’s heritage which will always remain at the core of everything we do.”

Ahead, I break down the answers to some widely-searched questions when it comes to these ever-popular Barbour jackets (shame on me for being late to the game), and explain why I think one of these makes for the perfect last-minute holiday gift this season. Your loved ones won’t be disappointed — they may just ask why you didn’t buy one for yourself, too.

Experts Featured in This Article

Nicola Brown is the head of womenswear at J Barbour & Sons Ltd.

About Barbour

• The Barbour jacket archive dates back to 1910, and the brand is still pulling references from the originals.
• Classic Barbour wax jackets continue to be manufactured and repaired by hand at the brand’s factory in Simonside, South Shields.
• Barbour has extended the DNA of the brand to footwear, accessories, and apparel (for kids and pets, too!) — all of which are currently resonating well with the US market.
• Bestselling jackets include the Classic Beadnell ($398), Beadnell Crop ($420), and Allerston ($500) for women and the Bedale ($415) for men, according to Brown.
• Barbour has a retail presence in over 55 countries worldwide, including the UK, US, France, Italy, and Spain.
• Barbour offers a Re-Loved program in which you can recycle your old jacket at any store in exchange for an $80 voucher.
• You can add a hood or liner to most jackets at any point in time.

PS Photography | Sarah Wasilak

What I Like About Barbour Jackets

My favorite thing about Barbour jackets is just how versatile they are. When you think of classic, neutral outerwear, you may not typically imagine shades of olive and brown, but these coats seem to go with everything in our wardrobes — including black. Because of the traditional details that comprise a Barbour — from the tartan interior lining to the contrast corduroy collar, and even down to the belts, shapely zippers, and metal hardware – the jacket either adds polish to an otherwise casual outfit or can be used for extra warmth when you’re dressed up for an event. Even the looser-fitting designs are characteristically tailored to leave an impression or resonate with brand devotees. Of course, the fact that these coats are modular — and you can easily add lining, a hood, or a belt — is an added bonus.

What to Consider Before Buying a Barbour Jacket

If you’re purchasing a Barbour jacket as a luxury gift for someone, it’s important to reference the size guide and get their specific measurements, if possible. While my boyfriend is typically an adult size small, he took a medium in the Porton jacket, which he carefully selected after using a measuring tape and referencing the chart.

Barbour jackets cannot be machine-washed and should be sponge-cleaned only — save for the waterproof breathable outerwear, which can be machine- or hand-washed at 30 degrees with non-detergent soap. Fabric softeners will lessen the effect of the water repellent treatment on these jackets, so definitely leave them out of the picture. Barbour jackets should not be dry cleaned as the chemicals used may cause permanent damage or remove the proofing.

Finally, while Barbour jackets are awesome layering pieces, if you really want to winter-proof the coat, I recommend tacking on some additional lining and a hood.

If you simply want to introduce a loved one to the Barbour brand, or can’t afford to splurge on a coat, you can also start by gifting them a gender-neutral accessory, like the Merino Cashmere Tartan Scarf or Tartan Walker Umbrella.

Barbour Jacket Designer Collaborations

“Collaborations are a really important part of the brand because they can attract new customers who may not have previously considered Barbour,” Brown explains. It’s possible you were even initially introduced to Barbour through its very popular line with Ganni, which has lasted for three seasons. “Collaborations offer a different take on Barbour’s heritage and it’s always interesting to work with new partners and to see how they interpret our archive . . . Ganni has taken our signature styles and added their own twist, while still staying true to the authenticity of both brands,” she says. Other notable collaborations include Barbour x Baracuta and Barbour x Noah, which are still shoppable, and earlier partnerships with Alexa Chung, Supreme, and Moncler.

PS Photography | Sarah Wasilak

Are Barbour Jackets Waterproof?

Most Barbour jackets are designed to be weatherproof, though there’s a specific waterproof category if you want to be extra safe. That being said, not all Barbour jackets come equipped with a hood or liner, which offers extra protection from the rain or snow. The classic waxed cotton jackets are known for repelling water and wind.

How to Re-Wax a Barbour Jacket

Barbour offers a special service to customers that allows them to send in their jacket to be re-waxed, repaired, or altered at any time for a minimum of $50 — and the brand suggests doing this on an annual basis. You can also purchase a small re-wax and smoothing tool, or any of the brand’s waxing kits to DIY small areas of your coat, as well as accessories.

If you’re close to a store location, you can pop in and have the team ship your item directly to the repair facility, though you can also ship by mail. Reproofs typically take about two weeks from time of payment, while repairs and alterations take four to eight weeks. Important to note: re-waxing your jacket could change the appearance of your jacket at first, giving it a darker color and sheen — but this will change with time.

Where Can You Buy a Barbour Jacket?

Barbour jackets are available to purchase on the brand’s website and at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-a-Porter, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and more.

Rating

Barbour Nora Casual Jacket: ★★★★★
Barbour x Baracuta Porton Waxed Harrington Jacket: ★★★★★

Sarah Wasilak (she/her) is the associate director of Shopping at PS. With plenty of experience in the commerce market, a keen interest in SEO, and 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle and health-and-fitness categories. She has bylines at PS, InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit and aims to amplify minority voices in all her work.

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