The 10 Best Jean Jackets, According to Fashion Experts
The classic denim piece is getting a high-fashion makeover.
Welcome to The Best in Basics, our series highlighting all the must-have classics that are key to building a timeless, pulled-together closet.
If 2024 was the year of quiet luxury, can 2025 be deemed that of slightly louder luxury? A raised whisper? Those slightly audible silhouettes are still simplistic with real-world wearability but invite moments of personality. Yep, we're talking personal style. The best jean jackets leading the 2025 trends perhaps tell this story best. The Americana staple was seen throughout the Spring/Summer 2025 collections, but designers took creative license, designing twists that aren't just pegged to stealth wealth style.
In Dries van Noten's spring collection, the Belgian designer included an oversized denim blazer with exaggerated lapels and supersized pockets, mixing a buttoned-up preppiness with his signature eclectic spirit. At Versace, a light-wash jean jacket was studded with clusters of pearls, and on Ulla Johnson's runway, denim was worn as rounded, puff-sleeved peplum tops. Even Cecilie Bahnsen, a Danish designer known for her frothy ruffled fabrications and flowy angelic silhouettes, unveiled a fitted dark-wash denim jacket that, upon a closer look, is slightly divergent from run-of-the-mill denim, adorned with cherry red piping.
Fresh denim jackets at Dries Van Noten, Ulla Johnson, Versace, and Cecilie Bahnsen.
"The luxury market is setting the tone for revitalizing denim jackets," says Trendalytics' director of fashion, Kendall Becker. It's easy to look to the runways for proof of that, but a remixed interpretation of the classic is also being piloted beyond the catwalks as showgoers used their best jean jackets as vehicles to showcase their personal style. Flair-filled denim jacket outfits emerged as a defining spring street style trend on the New York, Milan, and Paris sidewalks, while jean trench coats embellished with silver hardware and sized-up truckers were paired alongside colorful slip dresses.
Quiet is not really in the vocabulary for the most enticing jean jackets this season. They're expressive with something to say but can be one of the most malleable pieces of outwear you own. Courtney Busch, a styling team lead at Stitch Fix, relates the versatile wardrobe staple to a blank canvas that lets your individuality roam wild. "When choosing a denim jacket that's right for you, the rules don't apply," she says.
Ahead, Becker offers insight into the market's key silhouettes (spoiler alert: the bigger and baggier, the better), while Busch explains all of the ways to style them, with street style inspiration to help guide you as you shop Marie Claire's curated edit for the best jean jackets for women.
The Classic Trucker
Here, a trucker jacket in action at fashion week.
A classic trucker silhouette that's freeform in fit but not overly baggy is a great place to start. This 100-percent cotton option from J. Crew is cut in a straight-fitting silhouette and hits right above the hip. Its faded medium-blue wash achieves a well-loved look that vintage fans will be fond of (especially since they didn't have to do any of the thrifting heavy-lifting). It gets better: this evergreen jean jacket is currently 40 percent discounted as part of J.Crew's spring sale.
Big and Baggy
One guest styled her roomy jean jacket with a yellow dress and high-top sneakers.
"As with much of the outerwear market, boxy and oversized silhouettes are key [for spring 2024]," details Becker. TOTEME offers a denim jacket that epitomizes the baggy silhouette in perfect form—not too oversized, where it'll swallow you whole, but tailored enough that the loose fit looks intentional. As is standard with the Swedish fashion house that champions craftsmanship and environmental consciousness, this denim jacket is made of 100 percent organic cotton. Its bright medium wash will pair well with your matching true blue jeans in a modernized interpretation of denim-on-denim.
Not a Shirt, Not Quite a Jacket
A showgoer styled a denim shacket with a graphic tee and sparkly sheer skirt in an intriguing combination of laidback style mixed with glitz.
For those unfamiliar, please acquaint yourself with the agreeable shacket, a shirt-jacket hybrid that blends the best of both sartorial worlds. This affordable denim style from Banana Republic, made of hand-soft Italian denim, is a safe option to start with if you're new to shackets. It's oversized and cut with high slide slits, making it an ideal top to style with your best high-waisted pants. Alternatively, Busch has another outfit idea: "I would opt for classic straight-leg jeans paired with an oversized denim shacket for a denim-on-denim look," says the stylist. It's what's otherwise known as a Canadian tuxedo.
Cut It Short
Forget a hip-level crop—this guest wore a teeny-tiny denim jacket that hit just below the bust.
For those who've been keeping an eye on the overarching fashion themes lately, you'll recognize that hemlines continue to get shorter or, in the case of the celebrity-adored no-pants trend, barely there. Becker says this bare-it-all attitude also filters into consumer demand for denim, citing that searches for "cropped denim jackets are up 19 percent from last year.” MOTHER's light-wash lady jacket gives the flirty silhouette a more mature feel with its collar-less round neckline and retro-inspired bracelet sleeves. This is a denim jacket that demands your best bangles or charm bracelet.
Tell Me About It, Stud
Khaite's studded Grizzo jacket, a coveted style that's nearly impossible to find in stock, in the wild.
Silver rivets were the outerwear trend from fashion week's street style that broke free from the pack—every city block glistened and gleamed with hardware and grommets. A studded denim jacket—like this light-wash, silver-embellished 7 For All Mankind option—is a strategic way of dabbling into bold dressing, mixing a bit of flash with the wardrobe staple's innate classic appeal. Styling-wise, keep it simple; a silk slip dress and strappy sandals will do.
Dark Denim
Black denim teamed with a coordinating denim maxi skirt makes for a sharp and understated combination.
When you tire of a true blue wash, pivot to darker denim. AGOLDE's black denim jacket is a perennial favorite amongst fashion editors, including MC's crew. On the weekend, you'll often spot an off-duty style writer wearing this casual, drop-shoulder style around downtown Manhattan. Its denim is non-stretch, using a blend of new and recycled cotton, but in a few weeks, it will mold to your form with the perfect fit.
Blazing Denim
A fashion week guest wears a dark-wash denim blazer with a matching mini skirt.
GANNI sticks true to its signature Scandi style with its denim blazer designed with a few choice quirks, like a cinched fit-and-flare silhouette and notched cutaway lapels, and is adorned with gold-button hardware. It's made entirely from 100 percent cotton, which is no surprise since the Danish ready-to-wear lapel keeps eco-consciousness a top priority. Wear it into the office on a spring day paired with pin-tuck trousers and your best loafers.
Put a Print On
You'd know that double-C logo anywhere.
"If you already have plenty of classic denim jackets in your closet and you're looking for a more adventurous version this season, try a patterned style," encourages Stitch Fix's Busch. Marine Serre's moon-printed jacket has become a contemporary classic, symbolizing a new-gen approach to logomania. It's crafted from printed deadstock denim, perfectly aligning with what Becker sees as spring's breakaway trend: "I'm seeing patchwork as a strong style in the market. They're currently up 33 percent from last year," the Trendalytics fashion director shares.
Sherpa or Shearling
A woman makes her way to a runway show in Paris in a shearling-collar denim jacket.
"Lean into the more insulated and textured denim jackets for a chic late winter, early spring look," advises StitchFix's Busch. Considering the American brand has become synonymous with denim, Levi's sherpa-lined jacket is a worthwhile option to add to your outerwear arsenal. This particular style upgrades its signature trucker style with a plushy interior and softly quilted sleeve lining, ensuring Mother Nature's harsh weather doesn't affect your mood.
Watch Out for Spills
White on white, regardless of what any archaic industry rules say, is always a good idea.
L'AGENCE describes itself as blending Californian ease with Parisian elegance—and its white denim jacket epitomizes its brand M.O. Made from unstructured, half-stretch denim, the Shuri is cut in a straight, longline fit and features dropped shoulders, which add to the piece's relaxed attitude. Take the lead from the above member of the street style set and pair this cream jacket with denim trousers in a coordinating light colorway.
A Trend-Proof Trench
This woman's denim trench (in addition to further proving the silver stud takeover) was the final polish touch to her relaxed ensemble.
Casual yet sharp, aspirational yet accessible—this denim trench coat from Max Mara's sub-brand, Weekend, is the poster piece for that slightly louder luxury trend. The coat is classic in look with its double-breasted silhouette, back-vent panel, and adjustable belt with buckle closure. The 100-percent cotton denim fabrication offers an exciting freshness for the new season. Try styling it with a pair of ballet flats in one of spring 2024's top color trends—butter yellow, perhaps?
Meet the Fashion Experts
Experienced in luxury editorial, trend forecasting, and strategic consulting, Kendall is currently the Fashion Director at Trendalytics as well as a freelance writer for Refinery29, The Zoe Report, LuisaViaRoma, WhoWhatWear, and Coveteur. Prior, she was the Assistant Fashion Director for Women’s RTW at Bloomingdale’s and contributed to global trend forecasting agencies. Plus, she’s a fashion media personality and expert who’s been featured in ABC, Cheddar News, Harper’s BAZAAR, GQ, Bustle, Brides, and Vice.
As Stitch Fix Styling Team Lead, Courtney brings her fashion expertise, personalized touch, and over 6 years of industry experience to the role. Since joining the organization in July 2016 as a Senior Stylist, and then a Styling Team Coach, she has lent her styling expertise to many Stitch Fix clients, applying her attention to detail, fit and size knowledge, and trend-spotting skills to help them discover items they love. As a Styling Team Lead, Courtney has also managed and developed 50+ stylists across the Eastern Region and created informational and engaging content to create community, collaboration, and culture on Stitch Fix styling teams.
