When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

The Adult Man How To Wear Denim Jackets in Any Outfit Model Wearing Denim Jacket in Different Outfits Over Denim Fabric and Rivets
 / Style / Fashion Tips / 

How to Wear a Denim Jacket With Any Outfit (And Look Damn Good Doing It)

When a love for indigo knows no bounds.

Jamison Strong
Expertise:

Style

Jamison is a menswear consultant and custom clothier of five + years, lover of the English language, and firm believer in the power of a well-made suit. A creative individual with passions for menswear and styling, the English language, songwriting, photography, and cooking. Jamison has been writing and reviewing for The Adult Man since early 2024, covering all topics pertaining to the modern gentleman. Read full bio.


Published: Jul 22, 2024
7 min read

The average American has seven pairs of jeans in their closet. 

The denim jacket is slightly less common. 

However, it’s one of those pieces you can throw on with anything and almost always look good.

Fun fact: Did you know that denim was first made in Italy using a material imported from France?

The French town where the material came from is called Nîmes. “De Nîmes” (pronounced DUH-neem) translated to English means “from Nîmes.” And that’s where “denim” gets its name.

I LOVE denim. It’s one of my favorite fabrics for clothing. It’s extremely durable, insanely versatile, and looks amazing.

As a menswear consultant, I’ll show you how I’d wear a denim jacket with any outfit.

With Loungewear/Workout Attire

The Adult Man Denim Outfit

Whether you’re on the way home from the gym or you’re stepping out of the house for a quick errand, a denim jacket could be just what you need to make your loungewear look intentional, rather than lazy.

For the most part, loungewear and workout clothing should not be worn for extended periods of time outside of your own home or the gym.

But a denim jacket can be a lifesaver in a pinch.

View this post on Instagram

Pro tip: Throw on a nice pair of sneakers or any other nicer pair of shoes rather than running or workout shoes. Running and workout shoes should typically be worn only for their intended purpose. They’re not a fashion statement.

You could try keeping a nice pair of espadrilles or similar slip-on style shoes with you to put on in place of your running shoes after leaving the gym. Another great option is a classic army trainer

View this post on Instagram

A trainer like that can be worn in the gym as well as out. It’s one of my favorite sneaker styles and they go with everything.

Accessories can really help you out here, too. A great hat or nice pair of shades can really tie your outfit together. Imagine the look above with a nice sneaker, a great hat, and maybe a unique pair of shades. Not bad, eh?

In the Summer

denim jacket back

Yes, I said in the summer. Maybe it’s not the most likely situation, but a denim jacket can really flatter an otherwise bland ensemble of a t-shirt and trousers.

Let’s take a look at a couple of ways to pull this off. Below, the model is wearing a denim jacket over a lightweight, white shirt. The shorts are cotton, but slightly lighter weight than the jacket. 

Model in denim jacket and ghurka trousers

The sneakers are a nice, neutral high-top that work well with the palette. The hat is a nice touch as well. Accessories can really make or break your outfit. 

This next example utilizes a really classic short with striped shirt combo. The accessories are great. I am not a fan of flip-flops, however (and the girls I know agree!).

View this post on Instagram

Obviously, for starters, rolling the sleeve makes sense to help keep your arms cool. But what about just throwing the jacket around your neck? Or even tying it around your waist? It could help keep the sun off your back. Plus, it affords you an extra layer in case the night air gets nippy.

If you’re someone who doesn’t run hot, pair your denim jacket with light and/or bright colors. They look great in the summer and also work very well with denim. 

You could try lighter washes here or even lighter colors of denim.

View this post on Instagram

Here’s me in a vintage denim jacket with a light-colored pair of cotton Ghurka trousers and a beige t-shirt. A simple t-shirt can look really great if you know how to wear one.

Pro tip: Boat shoes are out, and flip-flops were never in!

In the Winter

model under tracks denim jacket green sweater everlane and blue wooster jeans mott and bow

Wearing a denim jacket in the winter can be a bit trickier. You’ll need to layer shirts and/or sweaters to provide most of your warmth. The denim jacket is a bit more for looks here.

There are denim jackets that are lined with shearling or faux shearling, which definitely helps keep you warm. But when I’ve worn them, I still find I need additional layers.

View this post on Instagram

Denim jackets look really great with winter fabrics and colors. My go-to here would be a great sweater (my preference is mock-neck, roll-neck, or turtle-neck) with looser-fitting pants. 

The looser pants allow you to wear a thermal underlayer. That layer will remain hidden but will provide you with a great deal of warmth.

Keep accessories in mind here as well. A scarf or a beanie can really aid in your body’s ability to retain heat. Plus, they look amazing.

Denim-on-Denim

View this post on Instagram

I love denim on denim. But it isn’t as easy as throwing on all denim attire and calling it good. You’ll need to consider the wash (how light or dark the denim is) of each piece. 

An outfit of entirely one wash or tone can work really well. But mixing different washes tends to be a bit easier. Especially when trying the look for the first time.  You should also consider weight and texture to bring variety and depth to your all-denim fit.

For this look, you can use different colors of denim material. But it’s most obviously denim when dyed indigo or blue. That’s my preferred look.

View this post on Instagram

However, if you have black denim pants, shirts, and jackets, rock them! An all-black (or any other color) denim fit could be really interesting.

Canadian Tuxedo

View this post on Instagram

The Canadian tuxedo is also a denim-on-denim look. Specifically, any denim jacket with any jeans. However, we can amp this up by incorporating a dressier shirt and throwing in a tie.

It can be a pretty cool look, but it requires a really great fit and a lot of confidence to pull off!

Different-colored denim is absolutely okay here. Have fun with this one. Accessories can be key to helping pull this one off as well.

With Dress Trousers

Have you seen this meme going around?

View this post on Instagram

Yeah, that’s right. A denim jacket with a pair of dress trousers. A shirt and tie, too. That’s a real next-level sartorial look, if you ask me. And I love it. 

View this post on Instagram

It’s definitely not the easiest to pull off. So let’s look at a couple of things to consider.

First, the weight of your trouser’s fabric really makes a difference. Because of the weight of denim, a heavier-weighted wool — flannel or tweed — will usually pair best. 

Don’t get me wrong. A typical worsted wool or wool blend trouser can definitely work. I really like the extra level of formality that they can bring. It just might be harder to pull off. Especially without the right fit. 

View this post on Instagram

And with that segway, fit and proportions are super important here. You’re trying to pull off a denim jacket with dress trousers. So the trousers especially need to be tailored to perfection. 

There are different fit preferences that are all acceptable. For example, the length of the trousers is more of a personal preference (just don’t go too short, or too long).

I would steer away from low rise and/or skinny-fit trousers. A low rise cut can make your legs appear shorter. I recommend wearing trousers that sit closer to your natural waist. They help to elongate your legs and give you more flattering proportions. 

Model in denim jacket and dress trousers

Skinny-fit trousers don’t allow the fabric to move freely. Dress trousers need to be able to drape, even if just slightly. 

That means they should not hug your leg. This is especially true of the heavier-weighted tweed and flannel fabrics. That extra weight will want to pull the fabric down. So let it. It allows for a soft and beautiful draping that really can’t happen otherwise.

With a Suit

View this post on Instagram

What, a dressy pair of leg-tubes isn’t good enough for you? I suppose I did say every outfit…

For a look like this, move ahead at your own risk. I suggest much more casual fabrics for the suit if you will be wearing a denim jacket over it. The example below utilizes corduroy as the suiting material.

Make sure your denim jacket is also long enough to approximately match the length of your suit coat.

Yes, the base is a suit. But this is a very casual look. Please don’t attend your friend’s wedding wearing this outfit

Conclusion

With many different styles of denim jackets available, start with what you have. Branch out if needed. But keep it relatively simple. Denim says a lot on its own without needing embellishments.

Your new (or existing) denim jacket has a few tricks up its sleeve. Stop just wearing it the way you’ve worn denim jackets before. There are so many unique and exciting ways to breathe new life into that thing! 

Overall, have fun, and remember that this is your style journey. Style is individual and you are the boss. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

For more, check us out on Instagram where we serve up simple, straightforward tips for self-improvement.

Leave a comment... Start the conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

THE LATEST IN Style