The process of building a well-curated menswear wardrobe often happens gradually — and then all at once. One day, you’re sweating it out in the heat of summer wearing some of the best summer slip-ons, and before you know it, it’s high time to layer up in transitional style with one of the best denim jackets for men.
There are plenty of style staples that can help you bridge the gap between summer and early fall, so think of it like an ongoing process. It’s not quite chilly enough to break out a rugged flannel shirt, but cool late summer and early fall evenings necessitate something with a bit more weight on your top half — but not too much.
The denim jacket, often made from cotton denim fabric in various shades of blue (more traditional) or other seasonal colors (like olive or tan) is but one workwear staple that’s made its way into the wardrobes of stylish guys everywhere. Trusted for its versatility, its handy front-button chest and hip pockets, and rugged good looks, the right denim jacket layers over other menswear classics with ease.
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Trust your denim jacket to work with everything from a short-sleeve henley to a pocket tee to a contrasting chambray shirt. Then, mix and match other style moves along the way, be it stretch chinos or a pair of contrasting denim (Think: A light wash denim jacket with black jeans — no “Canadian tuxedo” in sight). For now, it’s never too early to start prepping for the season ahead, and a denim jacket is the right fashion move to get you started.
Todd Snyder Selvedge Denim Jacket in Light Wash
Todd SnyderThe denim jacket is all about bridging the divide between seasons, and Todd Snyder knows that all too well. The use of lightweight-yet-dependable cotton selvedge denim, especially in a faded wash, calls to mind those light wash jeans you trust during the summer months, for starters. Yet, the ability to layer this jacket with either a breezy pocket tee (in the end-of-summer heat) or a Todd Snyder x Champion crewneck sweatshirt (come early fall) gives it multi-season versatility. Plus, the trim fit and premium hardware are handsome, stylish touches.
Lucky Brand Trucker Jacket
Lucky BrandThere are plenty of reasons the trucker jacket made its way from the open road into the closets of stylish gentlemen everywhere (like yourself). It’s highly functional, with handy pockets for your everyday carry, and it’s casually rugged — this style from a famed denim brand definitely checks both of those boxes. The cropped fit hits above the waist in true trucker jacket fashion, while the pleasing, ever-so-slightly faded wash is easy to style with classic tan chinos, or even dark gray or deep black jeans.
Buck Mason Denim Field Shirt
Buck MasonGranted, this all-American number from timeless style purveyors Buck Mason isn’t quite a traditional denim jacket in the most technical sense, but it’s just as worthy of your time and hard-earned cash this season. Like all Buck Mason gear, it’s dependable and utilitarian yet stylish, boasting a deep, dark blue wash and an overshirt-style design for reliable layering. The oversized chest pockets offer up plenty of space for daily carry essentials, while the 10oz. Denim is sturdy and highly useful on brisk early fall nights.
PAIGE Scout Jacket
PAIGELos Angeles is a hotbed for denim design and fabrication, so it only makes sense that West Coast-based PAIGE has a serious knack for crafting some of the best men’s jeans — and the best denim jackets, to boot. The Scout Jacket is a fan favorite for good reason, made from a substantial 11.75oz. Cotton fabric in an eye-catching mid-blue wash. Consider pairing it with a heather gray henley and black jeans for a bit of classic rock n’roll style.
Levi’s Trucker Jacket
Levi’s You could certainly call the famed Levi’s Trucker Jacket the original and a pioneering style when it comes to the best denim jackets — the company helped bring denim menswear and workwear to the masses, after all. Today, the style is beloved by everyone from Gen Z kids to modern style icons. In a range of washes and boasting a wear-with-anything fit and a highly agreeable price, it’s a classic fall style must-have.
Fender x Wrangler Denim Jacket
Fender x WranglerFrom The Replacements to The Strokes to stylish modern-day rockers like Leon Bridges, the denim jacket and good old-fashioned rock music just go hand in hand. The denim jacket has a hard-working, everyman appeal, and it’s simply a mighty useful jacket when out on the road. That’s why the recent Fender x Wrangler partnership makes so much sense. From the inky black colorway to iconic “W” chest pocket stitching, this new icon hits all the right notes.
Calvin Klein Denim Trucker Jacket
Calvin KleinThe great thing about wearing one of the best denim jackets? The options it presents you in terms of style: Throw it in your weekender bag for a country fall getaway, wear it on the road and use those pockets for your daily must-haves, or use it as a grab-and-go jacket atop a cotton flannel shirt for a weekend night of (responsible) bar-hopping. And if you can find one as classically designed and affordable as this Calvin Klein option, that’s all the better. We appreciate the classic faded indigo wash and contrasting silver hardware, and we think you’ll feel the same way.
Lee Denim Jacket
LeeThe best denim jackets offer up a bit of rugged edge to your wardrobe, the kind that calls to mind dusty days on the road and warm bonfires, perhaps with a touch of whiskey close at hand. Lee captures that spirit and distills it down into this seriously cool denim jacket in a deep blue color that’ll only get better the more you wear it. To top it off, the use of 1 percent stretch makes for comfortable layering on starry early fall evenings.
U.S. Polo Assn. Rigid Denim Jacket
U.S. Polo Assn.Sometimes, what you want is a simple, affordable, easy-to-style denim jacket, the kind you can wear right now — with stretch chinos and a lightweight tee — and the kind you can layer up with hard-wearing fall style picks later on. This U.S. Polo Assn. denim jacket is just what the (menswear) doctor ordered, made from a medium-light wash that wears well with olive chinos or dark gray stretch jeans for a go-anywhere seasonal look.
G-Star Raw Slim-Fit Denim Jacket
G-Star RawG-Star is never not on the cutting edge when it comes to slim, sleek denim, and that’s the case with its slim-fit denim jacket in a deep, rich indigo color. Contrast stitching and custom hardware offer eye-catching design touches, while Western-style pockets and a clean, above-the-waist fit also hit the right notes in terms of timeless style. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, team it with light wash denim for a switched-up take on double denim.
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