Canadian Tuxedo - Yay or Nay?

Step 1. Own Jeans

Most of us already own jeans… If you don’t own jeans this might be a mountain too high to climb. You have to play in little league before you win the world series.

Step 2. Choosing the Right Jean Jacket

The decision on which jean jacket to buy is an intimidating one for some. Like everything in the fashion world there are hundreds of varieties, representing the full range of quality, style, and price points. If this is your first jean jacket, I suggest you start by thinking about the following in order of most important to least:

Style

There are many styles to choose from but the classis Type 3 jacket, also called the Trucker Jacket, is an easy first step in to the world of jean jacket. When you think of jean jackets, this is likely the image that pops in to your head. There is some distinction between a type 1 type 2 and type 3 jacket, but it’s a pretty fine line that probably doesn’t really make a difference unless your are deeper into you denim jacket collection.

Fit

Fit is absolutely critical for a jean jacket. You want the jacket to hug the shape of your body. Too loose and you are facing a very unflattering, stiff shape that will take some time to break in. Too tight and you literally have a straight jacket.

The big secret to fit on a jean jacket (outside of trying it on or paying close attention to size guidelines) is to consider what you want to wear beneath it. Is this a jack-shirt type look where you will be wearing it over a t-shirt? Or is this a layering jacket that you will want to wear over a hoodie? Remember jean (cotton) jacket’s aren’t as naturally warm as a many other types of jacket so leave room for warmer layers if that matters to you.

Material

This is more of a quality check than anything else. When it comes to selecting the materials for a denim jacket, you are making the same decisions as you are in selecting denim pants.

For me, natural fibers are important, so 100% cotton is my default. If you prefer some stretch in your denim you can add something synthetic like elastane or lycra, but please stay away from the 50/50 type blend materials. These jackets don’t breathe well, they don’t last as long, and just generally miss the point. It’s almost always a fast fashion knockoff version of the classic.

Don’t let cost be an argument against 100% natural fiber. Just don’t get the one with the fake sheepskin lining. I know Jughead Jones is a classic, but I would take a wool sweater over that fire trap any day of the week, even in Riverdale.

Color

When choosing a color for your jacket, remember our questions from above: Do we match our pants or mismatch? Can you wear black and blue together?  The answers are Mismatch and Yes. You can wear blue and blue together, but back sure the denims are a different wash that the contrast is deep enough to easily distinguish the top and bottom half.

The easier play is to buy a black jean jacket for blue jeans and to wear a blue jean jacket with black jeans. An alternative jacket color to consider is green. Green pairs well with either black or blue jeans and also works very well with brown leather (in case you are a boot person or something).