A good jean jacket is the ultimate wardrobe cheat code. Throw on a classic denim trucker—the hardy and eternally handsome style that Levi’s first introduced well over a century ago—and your fit instantly gains more character, toughness, and all-around aura. Jean jackets are so insanely versatile, in fact, that there’s virtually no “wrong” way to wear ‘em. If that feels more intimidating and liberating, however, you’ve come to the right place. Your old pals at GQ are here with a few pointers to help you pick out exactly the right denim jacket with exactly the right fit and then pull it off with aplomb. Let’s get started.
How should a jean jacket fit?
A jean jacket should fit the same way you’d want any jacket to fit: not too snug, not too baggy. These days we definitely lean towards casual jackets that crop at the waist, and denim jackets are no exception. However, you can get away with a denim jacket that falls around two inches below your waistline. As a whole, the jacket shouldn’t fit so slim that you can’t layer other pieces of clothing underneath it (ideally, it should fit at least a light sweater). This applies to the torso as well as the sleeves—while some extra space is fine, you don’t want them to be too billowy.
Is a jean jacket business casual?
A jean jacket can absolutely fall under business casual guidelines. It’s going to depend on what you wear underneath it, not the jacket itself. If you’re wearing a fit that skews office-appropriate, like a well-worn oxford and pleated khakis, a denim jacket can fit into that look perfectly without making it inherently less formal.
Can you wear a denim jacket with jeans?
Ah, the eternal question: can you wear denim-on-denim? Yes, absolutely. You can totally wear a denim jacket with jeans, even when the washes of the denim match. (We’ll show you a couple prime examples of this shortly.) Canadian Tuxedos are an excellent look, one we encourage wholeheartedly. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. —Tres Dean
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