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If you’re wondering how to style a jean jacket, you’ve come to the right place. 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 than liberating, however, have no fear. 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.
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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.
How to Style a Jean Jacket
Don’t Overthink It
There’s no need to overcomplicate things. Already rocking an easy, breezy casual fit? Chances are, you can simply throw a jean jacket on top and make it that much better. Whether it’s a Hawaiian shirt and chinos like Johnny Knoxville or a vintage tee and black jeans like Ryan Gosling, simply adding a standout trucker to the mix delivers a whole new level of dimension and texture.
Double Up
Yes, it’s totally OK to wear the Canadian Tuxedo. As Bob Marley and Leon Bridges both proved nearly 50 years apart, the trick to making denim-on-denim work is to absolutely nail the fit—from the flatteringly tailored silhouettes of their jackets to the stage-ready flared cuts of their jeans, every detail on these kits feels purposeful, considered, and impossibly cool.
Layer Like a Pro
A jean jacket works great as an outermost layer on mild spring days and cool summer nights. But when things take a turn for the frigid, don’t be afraid to pull another coat, jacket, or heavy knit over top. Messers Lauren and Beckham are masterfully modeling how to do so here with a grail-level leather bomber and chunky knit cardigan respectively, but your trucker will also look plenty striking peeking out from beneath a tweedy topcoat, puffy parka, or timeless trench.
Give Your Blazer a Break
How do you make a beat-to-hell jean jacket feel right for the office or a dinner date? You simply swap it in wherever you’d normally wear a sport coat. As NBA style god Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forever style god George Harrison both demonstrate here, a dress shirt and tie looks stellar contrasted with well-worn denim—whether you then pair that off with sick distressed jeans or sharp tailored trousers is entirely up to you.
Our Favorite Jean Jackets
Ready to give a denim trucker a go? Here are four of our go-to picks. And don’t miss our complete list of the Best Men’s Jean Jackets for even more excellent options.
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