The 21 Best Denim Jackets of 2024
When It Comes to the Perfect Transitional Piece of Clothing, the Jean Jacket Is the Winner, No Doubt. One of the Most Timeless Pieces to Ever Exist, the Chance...
When it comes to the perfect transitional piece of clothing, the jean jacket is the winner, no doubt. One of the most timeless pieces to ever exist, the chance that you already have one in your closet is high. “A denim jacket is an item that has been in my wardrobe through my adolescence and in my adulthood," says designer Steph Mendoza. "From the looks of it, it’s not going anywhere.” And while they can be worn with almost anything or during any season, the number of styles out there can be hard to parse through when deciding what type of jacket you want.
Think cropped, oversized, hooded, colorful, embroidered — the list could go on and on. The dream denim jacket is one that molds to your body, offers a decent amount of warmth, and is versatile enough to dress up or down. We spoke to fashion experts and looked into our own closets to find the best jean jackets in inclusive sizes, high quality materials, and designs you'll never get sick of.
Best Overall
Levi's Women's Original Trucker Jacket
Amazon
What We Love: You can't go wrong with this classic denim jacket.
What We Don’t Love: There's a limited amount of washes in the plus-sizes.
“When you think denim, you think Levi’s,” says model Alexis Ren. “New or old, this jacket is a classic.” Almost every stylist InStyle spoke with mentioned their Levi’s jacket, whether it was thrifted or new, and there is no better place to start than with the original. Not only is the price great for the quality but also, since it only gets better with time, you can (and should) hold onto it forever. The straight silhouette hits at the hips for a classic fit and features the quality denim Levi’s is known for, making this one you absolutely need to add to your closet. You can pick from a whopping 10 different washes, but we just wish the plus-sizes had just as many washes to pick from.
Size: XS–4X | Washes: 10 | Fit: Standard
Must Read
Best Budget
H&M Short Denim Jacket
H&M
What We Love: It comes in all our favorite denim jacket colors.
What We Don’t Love: It’s ever so slightly cropped, and may not offer the most warmth.
There’s really nothing not to love about this jacket. It’s got all the key components of a stellar denim jacket: a vintage wash, a trucker design, and the ideal sleeve and hem lengths. It also comes in some of the most popular denim colors, including black, white, and gray. Thanks to its ever-so-slightly oversized fit, you’ll be able to layer some shirts and sweaters underneath without feeling stuffed. Without any frills or patterns, it’s almost like the blueprint for a classic denim jacket. And that for less than $50? Not a bad deal, if you ask us.
H&M does call this a “short” jacket, cropping right at the hip. For everyday use, it’s ideal, but if you truly want to stay protected against cold or windy days, you may want to go with a long style, like Rails Mulholland Jacket.
Size: XXS–XXL | Washes: 4 | Fit: Standard
