‘What is the most versatile piece of clothing you own?’ Well, we all know the answer to this question… it’s your best friend: The denim jacket.
Having a denim jacket in your closet means the options are endless. The combinations this magical piece of clothing can create are countless: from that summertime bright vibe to cozy fall comfy attires, your classic denim jacket has it all covered.
Ever since the concept of denim being used as a jacket was introduced, it has been a huge hit amongst fashionistas. It is still continuing to be of service as a laid-back yet classy prop that helps you serve a fashionable look.
How to wear denim jackets
Denim jackets have a rather interesting and widespread history. From being associated with the good old cowboy looks with the very hardcore and macho man depiction, to the rebellious, loud, and asserted rock era, denim jackets have been a staple part of wardrobes for a rather varying gradient of personalities. This particular reputation is the core reason why many guys are reluctant towards choosing a denim jacket as a part of their dressing.
The fear of not looking too flashy or loud keeps most of us from choosing this very important piece in our day-to-day choices of dressing. Speaking from personal experience, I would say this is precisely due to a lack of insight on how to pair a denim jacket up to dilute it down to that personal level of comfort.
So I decided to jot down my favorite combinations in a categorical manner, ranging from the most casual every day look to that perfect McDreamy formal sweep-them-off-their-feet date night spin:
The perfect casual: button-down and loafers
Think unpredictable yet grounded. Can you picture it? Yeah, that’s the look we are talking about here. A plain button-down screams BORING. So what do we do? We stir it up a little with the addition of cool classic denim. You can choose from either stonewash denim to light wash, the canvas is yours to play with.
With button-downs, the choices are many, like grey-green, solid white, sky blue, or others to choose from. A personal favorite of mine is a solid white button-down paired with light-wash denim. Loafers to top it off and ease up the matters a bit.
By the beach: denim on shorts
What do we do on a sunny day? We go to the beach. Being the very important beach ritual that your shorts are, they can be excellently turned into the perfect beach outfit with a jean jacket magically accentuating that oh-so-cool beach vibe.
The evergreen boy-next-door: white tee and sneakers
Capsule looks couldn’t get any better than a white tee paired up with some classics. Wear a denim jacket on a white tee and it’s a look. For a casual mid-day meeting pair it up with formal khaki knee-length shorts and a pair of matching white sneakers.
A chilly day might call for bottoms like khakis – brown-beige or olive green would be my best picks for the perfect fall energy.
Mr. perfect: the dress pants
Fusion dressing is all the hype these days. Mixing up genres – as long as they are not an abomination – is what it takes to look chic and trendy. The right choices will end you up with a unique, refined style statement and definitely bag you those compliments.
No better example than the ‘superior’ dress pants for the above-mentioned description.
As a fan of formal dressing, I could sing songs all day long for this exquisite combination. Want to amp up your dress pants and a casual white tee? Wear a denim jacket. Trust me; once you give this one a try, you’re never looking back.
Light-colored dress pants like ash-grey would blend nicely with black denim jackets or even navy blue.
The Canadian tuxedo: denim on denim
Historically considered as the absolute fashion faux pas, denim on denim has made its mark in the fashion community after being endorsed by many of our Hollywood favorites.
Even today, many steer clear of this talked about fashion statement, but what’s a man without a will after all?
This might sound like a lot of pressure but when done right, it can be one of your best ever looks. Just one cardinal rule: never wear denim pants with a denim jacket that matches them. It’s that simple. So if I walk you through it, all you have to do is mix up those denim shades.
If you are wearing a dark blue denim jacket, pair it up with wash blue jeans bottoms or even white jeans if you are feeling a little light. Black denim jackets can also be a great option for a denim on denim outfit look.
It’s a date: luxe sweater
There are times when we want to look formal but at the same time make the other person feel comfortable and turn down the tension. This here is your go-to look in situations as such.
Dark denim jackets are an excellent date night dressing choice. They can be spun in a lot of different ways. It completely depends on the frequency you choose to emit.
A very sharp outfit idea would be to pair it up with turtle necks. Black or any dark-colored denim jacket with a burgundy turtle neck or a cashmere sweater gives a great boost to your personality. The shoes of choice here would be black leather boots.
So these were some of the classic and well-known ways of styling a denim jacket for almost all occasions.
Moving forward, let’s talk about the more modern and futuristic styling options.
Modern ways to wear a denim jacket
Your outfit choices directly reflect the refinement of your fashion sense. What you wear speaks a great deal about your personality and let’s face it, impressions do matter. Learning to use this power wisely can be one of the most difficultly acquired virtues.
Denim jackets can be a rather tough one when it comes to creating combinations. You could either ace it and look it on top of your fashion game or just completely blow the opportunity, that too, in a terrible way.
Ranging from your rather outdoorsy, active days to the relatively formal or party wear options, the denim jacket is now being given a go on for creating many new outfit ideas. Let’s have a look:
With tailoring
Okay, we know you are thinking this is completely crazy, right? But wait a minute, just hear us out. A denim jacket with tailoring can actually make for a great denim outfit.
“Smart-casual” is a term commonly thrown around in the design world and this outfit does give it a new meaning. Well, isn’t it quite exactly that? Casual on the top and smart down below.
The best combination here would be with a dark denim jacket. A black denim jacket would be our best pick but you can also go for grey or dark blue classic. Add a dark turtle-neck and some additional accessories – think a fisherman beanie, statement neck chain, or a good pair of sunglasses – and your upper half is sorted.
For the bottom, dark grey wool pants would work perfectly. Slip-on a nice pair of leather derby shoes and you’re good to hit outside.
Weekends
Weekends and casual days are like home when it comes to denim jackets. Just pair it up with a nice solid tee and call it a look.
For summers, a mid-wash jacket to give off that cool breezy vibe paired with a plain t-shirt, and need we say cuffed sleeves. A pair of navy or beige chinos and minimalistic white sneakers would tie off the look nicely.
All those whites
Denim on denim can be a challenge when you are still in the phase of figuring it out. For experimental times like this, incline toward the extremes. Opt for contrast and go all poles apart: white denim jacket with considerably darker bottom denim and you’ll surely turn heads.
The important thing here is to take time when selecting the color of your legwear. Bright colors are very 2000s and pastels are, well, boring, to say the least. So sticking to deep colors like black, navy blue, or forest green is the key here.
Coming to the footwear, you can match your sneakers with the color of your legwear, making that white denim trucker jacket star of the show. Another option is matching white sneakers.
Sandwiched
If you haven’t already fallen in love with the denim jacket, we are giving you one of the major reasons: its layering capacity.
The sneaky design and cropped fit of the denim jacket make it a perfect candidate to be layered under a nice winter coat or some knitwear. A white t-shirt peeking from within would define the look furthermore.
Layering with classic pieces like a wool overcoat would be a fool-proof option. For the bottoms, if you are opting to wear jeans, make sure to keep ample contrast between the shades of your denim jacket and legwear.
Sea Stripes
A denim jacket on your sailing trips may not sound like quite the thing but when paired with a striped inner, these two do make up quite a pair. After all, who said looking stylish can’t go hand-in-hand with pulling those rods?
From light wash to navy blues, everything will work as long you steer clear of the whites. Speaking from a technical point, the darker tints give out a dressier look so save up the stonewash for casual meetings, no hard rules though. The point here is, stick to the blues for a more outdoorsy effect, the lighter the better.
Go for a white or cream-colored legwear and throw on a Breton top for that ready to sail feel. Boat shoes are the best choice for footwear, but, whatever floats your boat.
Blacked out
Denim jackets have a long, well-known history of being chosen by almost all musical groups like metal, rock, punk, and more. Being a popular favorite, the denim jacket has within itself become a star. And there’s a fact we all know to be true: nothing gets better than dressing in all black from head to toe.
Some things never go out of style, going all black is just a prime example. Along with making you the star of the gathering, it is also extremely smart and helps slim out that body.
Slim-fit charcoal black jeans paired up with a black t-shirt or any other shirt based on how you’re feeling would work for a perfect stud, hardcore look. Tie the outfit up with shiny, black leather boots and not to forget the star: a classic, good quality black denim jacket.
Blue-collar
Nothing looks better than a denim jacket that seems to be sticking to its roots. Origin is the most essential factor about any piece of clothing, and when worn in its true element, the Borg collar denim jacket is bound to make a statement.
Styling a blue-collar denim jacket with a thick, seasonal flannel shirt is a great option. You can play around in various ways like wearing it open or even layered depending on the warmth of the winds.
General FAQs
How to buy the perfect denim jacket?
While looking to add a denim jacket to your wardrobe, you want to make sure of the two very important factors, color, and fit. Choosing the right color and fit is directly related to your level of self-awareness. Getting colors that compliment your mood and a fit that elevates your best parts should be your goal.
What color denim jacket should you get?
Choosing a color is sometimes a challenging task. The best way is to keep your combination articles in mind, this will give you a clearer perspective as to whether you’re looking for darker shades or light wash. Denim jackets are available in a vast range of colors these days. One important rule that will help you choose: the darker the shade, the dressier your denim jacket will look. So for casual outings, you know you should tilt towards the lighter range.
How your denim jacket should fit?
Fit is a very important factor and you can’t afford to go wrong with this one. A well-fitted clothing item that is neither too loose nor too tightly fitted is what you should look for. It should fit the tightest top you have in your closet. The buttoned version of the jacket should not seem too bulging or as if to be popping open. Having these few factors in mind will help you choose that perfect size.
