If You’d Describe Your Personal Style As “Classic” Then You MUST Own This Underrated Essential

One might even use the word “timeless.”

 
 

by Audie Metcalf

If you have a classic, timeless esthetic, a jean jacket is an essential in your wardrobe

This is known. 

Let’s lust after a few of the most iconic ones our eyes have ever seen:

 

Image from Thelma & Louise Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Image from Pinterest

Image from Daily Mail

Image from Glamour

Image from Pinterest

Image from Pinterest

 

Cool, effortless, youthful. All words I love. 

And so, an embarrassingly large part of my clothing life has been about searching for the best jean jacket, trying on various jean jackets, discarding jean jackets I bought and ended up hating, and finally… discovering 2 perfect jean jackets. 

Ok, so why 2? Well. They serve different needs, don’t they? And in my YEARS of trial and error, I strongly believe that we all need the following 2 styles:

1. Oversized

2. Cropped

I have tried COUNTLESS versions of both of those styles, and have landed on the single best version of both.  Please just trust me on this so that my many years of sweating in dressing rooms and rejecting too-tight armholes weren’t in vain. 

LIFE-CHANGING JACKET #1

 

The $50 Jean Jacket

 

What: Quince 100% Organic Cotton Denim Jacket and Quince 100% Organic Cotton Oversized Denim Jacket

First of all, the price is madness. Is it not? $50 for a really well made jacket you could own essentially until you die? Incredible.
And it comes in two fits. The original version is that perfect classic shape. The oversized version is very boxy and spacious though it may be too enormous for some (I’m in a medium, and it’s pretty swimming), in which case I’d say def stick to the original.

I wear this jacket with all of my dressier skirts and dresses, and it always looks so chic. THIS particular skirt I’m wearing above is permanently sold out, but HERE are some of my favorite alternates.

Price: $50 for the classic, $60 for the oversized

SHOP THE LOOK

 
 
 

And this photo is just to prove that this amazingly roomy jacket fits over THIS very thick sweatshirt (my fave on this earth) without feeling like a stuffed sausage. And it sort of takes your slumming-it pig days of sweats and Uggs and makes them 37% more put together. 

SHOP THE LOOK


 

LIFE-CHANGING JACKET #2

 

The CROPPED Jean jacket that feels like a sweatshirt

 

What: Universal Standard Kelsey Denim Jacket

First of all, this jean jacket has the most gloriously roomy armholes on earth so I never feel constricted. It also has SO MUCH STRETCH that it honestly feels like loungewear. I’ve had it for about 4 years, and it might be the most-worn thing in my closet. For reference, I’m wearing a size XS (you’ll see their sizing is sort of different). It makes a simple all-black outfit look finished, it hits riiiiiight at the most flattering spot, and the size range will absolutely blow your mind. I know it comes in other colors and I’m not sure why I haven’t bought more but I’m going to rectify that error tout suite. 

Price: $138

SHOP THE LOOK

 
 
 

This outfit is mostly just to show you this amazing PLEATHER skirt that is the skirt version of the black pants above, and the fit is truly like nothing I’ve ever known. I actually wanted the olive color but it was out of stock, though I think it’s back now and it’s STUN. It’s just so stretchy and unbelievably flattering and I love throwing this jean jacket on over it. I also wanted to show you more of this lace-up Oxford with bobby socks look that I’ve been consumed with lately. Only people born in the 70s like me will know the term “bobby socks” and I’m fine with it. I could also show you like 57 more photos of outfits featuring this jean jacket because it’s essentially THE go-to piece of outerwear for spring, summer, and fall for me. 

Have I said “jean jacket” enough times in this article? Here’s one more. Jean jacket. 

SHOP THE LOOK


 
 
 
 

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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