Hi. I’m Audie. And I Have Far Too Many Denim Jackets. But Here Are My Favorite 7. Yes, 7.
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by Audie Metcalf
The number of denim jackets in my closet is alarming. It used to be more but I just did a closet purge where I got rid of FOUR and I still have...
Eight.
Yes. That means at one point I owned … 12 denim jackets.
Why denim jackets? Or “jeans jackets” as my stepmom used to call them in middle school? I’ve thought a lot about this, mostly to be able to make sense of my egregious choices for all of you and I think it’s this:
They are somehow both classic and youthful.
There’s not a lot of types of clothing we can say that about. Classic pieces, while of course almost always the correct choice, don’t necessarily scream youth; if anything, they can tiptoe into grand dame if you’re not careful. And conversely, overtly youthful clothes can QUITE easily veer off into “clinging to one’s 20s” in a way that feels desperate and unbecoming.
But enough of my garrulousness. Let’s see these jackets. Because yes, of course I tried on every, single one for you and explain why they’re all very necessary. And very different from each other. Sort of.
1. The gOAT
WHAT: J.Crew New Classic Denim Jacket In Bianca Wash
Why I love it: It’s 90% about the crop. I crow about this all the time and if you have even a shred of trust for me when it comes to how to dress like you’re not desperately clinging to your youth but also don’t want to look like a boring matron, you’ll need me when I say this: crop. is. your. friend. Yes, even if you have a pooch. When we wear crops, they hit us at the smallest part of our waists regardless of pooch existence and it makes our legs look longer, and our entire bodies look more lithe.
SHOP THE COMPLETE OUTFIT: Jacket* | Dress* | Similar Bag*
SHOP THE COMPLETE OUTFIT: Jacket* | Tank* | Similar Skirt* | Shoes*
Price: $79.50
2. The New GOAT
WHAT: We The Free Sidney Denim Jacket*
Why I love it: Is it nearly identical to the above jacket? Yes it is! But … it’s roomier in the arms which I just prefer on a day-to-day basis, especially as we go into fall and I’ll be wearing thicker shirts and sweaters. I’d say the above is slightly more form-fitting and sleek and this one feels a little bit more 80s and Cindy Mancini coded. Only my olds will know!
Image: Touchstone Pictures
Price: $98
3. The Wildcard
WHAT: Gap Pin-Cuff Crop Icon Denim Jacket*
Why I love it: You don’t need this. I don’t need this. But I tried it on and I just went weak. I love it so, so, so deeply. And if clothes don’t make me swoon, I don’t buy them. This jacket makes everything I wear it with, look like fashion. The design feels so inspired, and I am quietly allowing myself to be hopeful that the Gap could be on its way to being good again.
Price: $118
4. The sweatshirt-inspired one
WHAT: Z Supply All Day Knit Denim Jacket*
Why I love it: This is one of those “throw it on over anything and even though it’s loose it helps you feel more covered while never looking sloppy” pieces that I wear constantly. I even wrote a dedicated article about this magical piece HERE.
Price: $138
SHOP THE COMPLETE OUTFIT: Jacket* | Tank* | Jeans* | Similar Shoes* | Bag* (Includes gifted items)
5. The … shortsleeved one? (I know. I’m deranged)
WHAT: Madewell Shrunken Denim Trucker Jacket*
Why I love it: Well naturally I needed a SHORT SLEEVED DENIM JACKET. Just ludicrous. And yet. I live in LA. It’s hot here a lot. Sometimes I need a not-so-warm jacket for the evenings. And it has style! Ugh, I’m really working hard here I know. I just love how it looks, the end.
Price: $138
6. The one that’s never in stock
WHAT: Quince 100% Organic Cotton Oversized Denim Jacket*
Why I love it: Well. Just look at it. It’s so gloriously oversized and just generally reminds me of perhaps my very first style crush. And perhaps she’s yours, too:
Image: NBC
Yes, #2 on the list has a simmmmilar vibe, but this one is SO oversized so it’s different. The problem is, the price is so unspeakably good, it sells out the day they restock every time.
Price: $60
7. The one that actually might just be a blazer but it’s denim so I’m including it
WHAT: Paige Betania Crop Denim Blazer*
Why I love it: The lines. The shape. The ability to wear denim in a very formal way. I’ve had this for a while so this might just be something to admire from afar because it’s not avail anywhere except in random sizes. Sorry. But I’m still including it mostly to let you know what a denim jacket lunatic I am.
Price: $150
8. The one with the best size range of all time
WHAT: Universal Standard Kelsey Denim Jacket*
Why I love it: I believe this may have been the very first gifted piece of clothing I got from a brand back when we started The Candidly in 2020. Getting it felt like Christmas morning. It still does. Here it is in a photo I took for one of the very first clothing round ups we ever did, 5 years ago:
* Gifted
I wore this thing to deaaaaath. I still love it so very much and am considering getting the dark indigo color* because I love the stitching contrast. This one is SUCH a great choice if you want your denim jacket to feel supremely soft, have larger than usual arm holes, yet still have a great, flattering shape. And they run from a 000 to a size 40 which is just so lovely.
Price: $168
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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