In my experience, some of the most fascinating menswear and the best style essentials for men sit at the intersection of two different points of view. Refined tailoring always has a place in a guy’s wardrobe, as does durable workwear — and when the two meet, as they only tend to do when an expert dreams up and designs the perfect pieces — the results are undeniably cool, classic-yet-modern, and nearly essential in your wardrobe. In fact, it’s kind of like the menswear so often on display from Alabama’s own Billy Reid.

Think of it this way: While you might rely on a trucker jacket or a canvas chore coat for handling spring cleaning, what about when you want a dash of that same style, yet with a touch more refinement? A chore coat you can, dare I say, dress up ever so slightly? That’s where Billy Reid delivers the goods with the new Billy Reid Chambray Chore Jacket, the designer’s expert take on a traditional workwear silhouette.

This classic-with-a-twist type of piece is part of the new Billy Reid Spring Collection, which boasts breezy textures, easygoing elegance and a healthy dose of the classics (like Oxford shirting, super-soft cotton polos and expertly cut chinos). The Billy Reid Chambray Chore Jacket gets a little more down and dirty, but only slightly — it’s the type of chore coat you can dress up. And the specs perfectly meet the moment if you want a lightweight chore coat that’s airy and at the same time durable.

The tightly woven blend of cotton and linen boasts texture and softness, a perfect happy medium compared to thicker cotton canvas chore coats. As the company says, the Billy Reid Chambray Chore Jacket is “ready for the warm weather,” even matching up with its own set of chambray cotton-linen pants for a more polished look.

Classic chore coat touches are front and center, including a foldover collar with zig-zag undercollar detailing, plus three patch pockets for your everyday carry. In terms of style points, the charcoal color is a change of pace from typical indigo or even olive or tan chore jackets.

Again, it’s never bad to have a dash of variety in your wardrobe, particularly when it comes to pairing the rugged-yet-refined Billy Reid Chambray Chore Jacket with blue jeans, olive chinos or black denim (it can do all of that, and then some). Billy Reid’s custom inner stripe lining and inner pocket button detailing are also masterful touches, as is contrast sleeve lining.

With the handsome, ever-versatile design of the Billy Reid Chambray Chore Jacket, the designer has once again struck the right balance between the rugged and the refined — would you expect anything less from a menswear master?