How to Wear a Denim Jacket (Men)

Co-authored by Veronica Tharmalingam

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References

Denim jackets are a popular article of clothing among men. They are perfect as an additional layer in the winter or as a lightweight outer layer in spring or fall. Pair your jacket with a t-shirt to keep it casual or dress up for a night out with a button-down. Match denim pants with jean jackets or put together a more versatile look with khakis when selecting your trousers. Maintain your jacket by washing it and air drying it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating Casual Outfits

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Keep casual with a t-shirt. A single-color t-shirt will add contrast to your outfit while keeping it simple.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Expert Interview. 6 April 2021.} Light colored jackets can be offset with dark colored shirt choices and vice versa. Wear a graphic tee for a trendier look.^{[2]
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- When selecting a graphic tee or similar shirts, choose ones with designs on the front-middle of the shirt. This way others can see the design when your jacket’s unbuttoned.
- When wearing a tee, elaborate shoes might clash with your casual look. Try sneakers, simple boat shoes, or a casual, low-cut boot.
- Simple patterns, like horizontal stripes, can add pop to your ensemble.^{[3]
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  Research source} More complex patterns, like paisley, may draw attention away from your jacket.^{[4]
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Play up the rustic qualities of your jacket. Jean jackets are often associated with rugged cowboys and rural farmers. Emphasize these qualities with plaid and simple checked patterns. Shirts made of flannel fabric are also an excellent choice for the rustic look.^{[5]
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- To complete your rustic appearance, wear a cowboy hat and some cowboy boots. Try not to over accessorize, as this may come across as though you’re trying too hard to look the part.
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Match denim pants with your jacket carefully. If the color or the style of the denim of your jacket and pants don’t match, these may end up clashing. Get around the matching problem by wearing black jeans with your jean jacket.^{[6]
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- Keep this look simple and refined with a pair of brown shoes or low cut boots. Wear sneakers to dress this look down.^{[7]
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Choose khaki pants for a versatile outfit. Khaki pants will provide a casual, laid-back look with nearly any shirt and jean jacket combo. Traditional khakis will suit blue and black jackets. Khakis dyed non-traditional colors can add some variety to an everyday outfit.^{[8]
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- Pair traditional khakis with a jean jacket and a button down shirt for a look that might be described as “rugged gentleman.”
- Brown accessories, like belts and bracelets, and brown footwear, like derbies and oxfords, work well with traditional khaki pants. Oxblood colors add a rich, refined warmth to this look.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Dressing up with a Jean Jacket

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Get preppy with a polo shirt. When headed out for a date or for a night out with the boys, a polo can add a touch of sophistication to your look. The contrast between the preppiness of the shirt and the ruggedness of the jacket can create a playful yet slightly edgy appearance.
- Much like normal tees, single-color polos and those with simple designs, like horizontal stripes, do well when paired with a jean jacket.
- Add to this look with an accessory, like a watch, necklace, or bracelet. Preserve your sophisticated look by wearing a simple belt with polos.
- Avoid casual footwear, like sneakers, with this style. Slightly formal shoes, like loafers or derby shoes, work best.^{[9]
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Make your look more formal with a dress shirt. Pair collared button-down shirts with your jean jacket to achieve a smart casual look. A plain white shirt will work with all colors of jacket. To create a smoother blend between outer and lower layers, choose colored shirts that complement your jacket’s color.
- A simple tie can make this outfit slightly more formal. Ties with complicated designs will likely be too busy or distracting.
- Simple patterned dress shirts, like those with plaid, checked, or striped designs, can add some pop to this look.^{[10]
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Achieve a smart, relaxed look with chinos. Chinos pair well with most jean jacket outfits. Even wearing a plain t-shirt, in chinos you’ll look comfortable but still sharp. Polo shirts can elevate a chino-jacket combo to business casual.^{[11]
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- Dress this look up with a button-down shirt or find the trendy middle ground with a graphic tee.
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Choose dark colored or fur trimmed jackets for upscale appeal. Break out a darker colored or fur collared jacket for dates and special events. Prioritize these styles for work functions, as they are often considered suitably stylish for the workplace.
- Darker colored jackets, like those that are dark blue or black, tend to look more formal.
- Fur trim around the collar of your jacket will provide warmth on cool spring nights while giving you a cultured appearance.^{[12]
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Wear slacks when you’re on the job. If you work on-site in construction or a similar field, you might need a durable outer layer but formal attire. Blue jackets will pair with most colors of slacks, like black, brown, and light gray. Wear black, dark blue, and dark gray slacks with black jackets.^{[13]
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- Your formal shirt and trousers will make a tie seem less out of place beneath your jean jacket. Match your tie with your outfit as you would for a normal suit.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Jacket

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Wait at least six months before washing new jackets.^{[14]
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Research source} Washing your jacket too soon could do harm to its fibers. Even after six months have passed, you should only machine wash your jean jacket rarely. Wash jackets on a cold cycle, unless otherwise indicated on its care instructions.^{[15]
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- Jean jackets made from special fabric blends may have unique care instructions. Always follow the jacket’s label care instructions for the best results.
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Refresh your jacket with shower steam. Hang your jean jacket on a wooden hanger in the bathroom when you’re taking a shower. Keep vents off and windows closed to build up the steam. The steam will smooth wrinkles and could even eliminate faint stains and odors.^{[16]
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- To preserve your jacket the longest, try a shower steam treatment before anything else.
- Water may condense on metal or plastic hangers. If too much water accumulates, it can stain your jacket or create streaks where it has dripped.
- When hanging your jacket, do so in a way that keeps it from the surfaces of the room. Your jacket may absorb dirtiness or excessive moisture from walls, doors, and so on.
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Soak your jacket in a distilled white vinegar solution. Fill a bucket, bathtub, or similar container with enough cold water to completely submerge the jacket. Add a half cup (118 ml) of vinegar to the water. Stir the solution to distribute the vinegar, then soak your jacket in it for roughly half an hour.
- Treating your jacket with vinegar will help maintain its color. This is especially useful for dark colored jackets, which sometimes transfer dye to other clothing, furniture, and so on.
- Although vinegar has a potent smell, when your jacket dries this smell will disappear. Leftover solution can be disposed of down a drain.^{[17]
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Air dry your jacket. Machine drying your jacket will dry it more quickly, but the heat from the dryer will cause its fibers to break down, weaken, and fray. Hang your jean jacket from a clothesline, a hanger, or on the back of a chair to let it air dry.^{[18]
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- When hanging or draping your jacket to dry, pull on the fabric to straighten wrinkles. This will reduce the amount of wrinkling in the dried jacket.

Expert Q&A

Question

What shouldn't I wear with a jean jacket?

Veronica Tharmalingam
Professional Stylist
Veronica Tharmalingam is a Personal Stylist who runs her fashion consulting business, SOS Fashion, in Los Angeles, California and Paris, France. She has over 10 years of experience crafting stylish wardrobes for men and women. Veronica is also a professional model and has worked with international brands like Harrods, LVMH, and L'Oreal.

Veronica Tharmalingam

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Try to avoid busy patterns or prints since your jacket will already be a statement piece.
Question

Does a polo shirt go with a denim jacket, as two collars may seem odd?

Community Answer

They could definitely go together if you tuck the polo shirt's collar under the jacket, so that it can't be seen from the back or sides.
Question

Is it okay for a guy to tuck his t-shirt in jeans while wearing a denim jacket?

Community Answer

Yes, it is okay to tuck a t-shirt and wear a denim jacket on top of it. When the shirt is not tucked in, it produces a more relaxed and casual appearance. A tucked-in look will be more appealing if the wearer maintains an upright posture.

Warnings

Some denim blends or kinds of fabric may require special treatment when cleaning. Always follow the label care instructions of your jacket for the safest cleaning.

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