How To Wear A Jeans Jacket with Every Outfit
What is a Jeans Jacket?
A Jeans jacket, also known as a Denim jacket, is a casual jacket made from durable denim cloth. It is also sometimes called a trucker jacket dure to its extreme popularity among truckers in North America. A jeans jacket is essentially an all-season piece of clothing that can be comfortably worn around the year. Although the oldest known denim jacket dates back to around the early part of the 19th century in Rhineland, Western Germany, the jean jacket in its modern form originated in the United States of America during the latter part of the same century. Over the course of the decades of its existence, the denim jacket has quickly evolved into the legendary article of clothing that it is now, being worn by both men and women in equal measure. The jean jacket has unarguably ingrained itself into the culture that is Americana, rivalled only by denim trousers. That being said, jean jackets are worn around the world, and are in no way limited to America alone. There are many different types of jeans jackets. However the three most common types are:
- Classic Trucker Style Jeans Jackets
- Bomber Style Jeans Jackets
- Safari Style Jeans Jackets
What is the History of the Jeans Jacket?
The jeans jacket in America was developed by a German immigrant by the name of Levi Strauss circa 1880, which is roughly a decade after he invented the famous Levi's jeans trousers. Levi intended this jacket to be used by people involved in laborious physical work such as coal miners and railroad workers. However, it would be the cowboys that would popularise the Jeans jacket to such an extent that jean jackets are still synonymous with the cowboy lifestyle to a large extent. Levi Strauss & Co. have played a pivotal role in the continuous development of the jeans jacket, with their Type III jacket becoming the marquee stereotype for all denim jackets since its introduction in the ‘60s.
What are Some of the Leading Brands of Jeans Jackets?
Besides Levi’s, other famous global brands producing iconic jean jackets are Wrangler, Lee, Lee Cooper, Pepe Jeans and Calvin Klein. Luxury clothing brands such as Gucci and Dior have also been selling their own iterations of the quintessentially American jeans jacket. In India, companies such as Moustache, Bare, Killer and Spykar Lifestyle manufacture and sell high quality jeans jackets. Besides these established high-volume jean jacket manufacturers, there are quite a handful of low-volume boutique jeans jacket and trouser manufacturers that have been catering to an especially discerning clientele.
Also, read: Top 10 Jeans Manufacturing Companies in India
How to Wear a Jeans Jacket with Every Outfit?
It is a popular saying that jeans jackets go with absolutely everything. There is no exaggeration here! Jeans jackets are some of the most versatile articles of clothing that you will ever come across. They are essentially fit for all seasons – spring, summer, autumn/fall and winter. They can be paired with almost any outfit – even with denim shirts and trousers! Men can comfortably pair jeans jackets with formal clothes, casual attire, gym pants, khakis and even kurta pyjamas! In winter, jean jackets can be worn over a sweater as an additional layer of insulation from the biting cold. For women, the possible combinations are even more enormous! Jeans jackets can be paired with skirts, sarongs, salwar suits, formal dresses, khaki pants as well as track pants. What’s more, a jean jacket can also be worn on its own as a replacement for a shirt. Jeans jackets come in various colours and styles. For example, you can buy an oversized denim jacket or an unorthodox black jeans jacket as long as it suits your style requirements.
How to Buy the Perfect Jeans Jacket?
The perfect denim jacket should ideally fulfil the following criteria irrespective of its price:
A Plain Jane jeans jacket is usually the best. This means that the jeans jacket should not be ripped, or have patches sewn into it – basically, it should not have any customizations done to it. Remember, customization is best left to the wearer – that’s what custom means, your individual style statement! Also, avoid jean jackets that have been artificially distressed or worn in using chemical or mechanical processes. Such specimens just do not age that well. The jeans jacket should weather naturally with the wearer (i.e. you)!
Comfort and utility should be two of the most important criteria for you when choosing your next jean jacket. A jeans jacket should fit well in every possible respect. It should have pockets to slide your hands into and these pockets should be placed within the comfort zone of your hands.
Last but not the least, jeans jackets should correspond to any of the archetype styles – classic or modern does not matter. The last thing you would want is a wannabe jeans jacket with a mishmash of features randomly picked from different classic styles in order to look “cool”. Just as an example, if you appreciate the good old trucker style jean jacket, do make an effort to pick a genuine classic trucker jacket! This means that your jacket should have two chest pockets with button-down flaps – nothing else will count as genuine. Stay true to a style – it makes you look classier. Remember, it makes for a lot more fulfilling buying experience to make an educated purchase after hours of online research than brazenly buying something random and later realizing that it’s a fashion disaster and contemplating returning or exchanging it.
Also, read: Best Girl's Jeans Brands in India
Your First Jeans Jacket: How Should it be?
For your very first Jeans jacket, stick to the basics and do not experiment too much. Choose a Levi’s Type III in a Mid-wash medium blue colour. You are pretty unlikely to go wrong with such a design and colour combination. This is the only jeans jacket you will ever need!
Once you are really into denim jackets, allow yourself to experiment just a little without going totally overboard. So, for your second jeans jacket, you might like to pick a darker indigo shade. You can now confidently buy a jacket made from raw denim and break it in. Enjoy experiencing your precious jeans jacket “wear in” and mildly transform with every wash – there is no other feeling as rewarding as growing old together with your jean jacket!
Lastly, if you are intent on having a third jeans jacket in your wardrobe (although this is purely optional), you might like to go in for a bleached summer jacket. This will be lighter in shade than your Mid-wash medium blue jacket and you will be able to nicely pair it up with any of your light-coloured khakis or chinos. It will also go well with white or light blue-coloured jeans.
How Does the Perfect Jean Jacket Fit?
The perfect jeans jacket should fulfil the following fitting requirements:
- The shoulder seam should perfectly line up with your shoulder bone.
- The body of the jeans jacket should look “fitted” and should not be either too tight or too boxy.
- The waist of the jacket should fall on your waist as closely as possible. Longer or shorter jackets are bound to look very odd when worn.
- The sleeves of your jeans jacket should end exactly at your wrists.
FAQs: Jeans jacket
Q. What do jeans jackets represent?
Ans. Jeans Jackets represent Americana – the true West in its wildest form! Once the go to article of clothing of cowboys, miners and outlaws on motorcycles, jeans jackets have come a long way in finding itself in the wardrobes of the rich and famous, the forever hustling middle-class, the young and the restless, the old, the middle-aged, the doctor, the lawyer, practically everybody!
Q. What is the appeal of jean jackets?
Ans. Jeans Jackets have a timeless appeal. Every year, newer fashion trends replace older ones. The bell bottoms gave way to baggy pants, which in turn, were replaced by comfort fit, and finally slim fit trousers. However, jeans jackets have continued almost unchanged in style since the 1960s. In this regard, jean jackets are very much comparable to Ray Ban Aviators – both are so perfect, it’s almost impossible to find a replacement! There is another reason for the mass appeal of jean jackets. Jean jackets are extremely versatile, that is, they can be paired with virtually any type of clothing – formals, casuals, gym clothes, ethnic dresses and uniforms.
Q. Are jean jackets still fashionable in 2022?
Ans. Jeans jackets are absolutely fashionable in 2022. While the classic blue jean jacket over a white tee is still as relevant in 2022 as it was in 1972, you can actually go the extra fashion mile and pair your jeans jacket up with a hoodie (This goes for both sexes). If you are a woman, you can confidently throw a jean jacket over your favourite crop top in order to beat the cold. Lastly, the denim-on-denim look is still fashionable in 2022. So, if you own a jeans jacket and a pair of jean trousers, do try pairing them – they look fabulous together!
Q. Is it acceptable to pair jeans with a jeans jacket?
Ans. It is not only acceptable but highly recommendable to pair jeans with a jeans jacket! Pairing denim with more denim has always been a trend and such a denim-denim combination makes for a classy attire, whether you are at work, at the bar, at the movies or making a cross country trip.
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