Why you need a denim jacket in your wardrobe

As winter is starting to wind down in Sydney, I’ve already turned my mind to my spring wardrobe. I’m a total summer baby at heart, so it’s probably little surprise I’ve spent the last two months wishing I could wear my favourite spring style staples on repeat. It’s also during the transitional season that I start to think about how I can give my closet a small refresh with a few key pieces; outerwear being a major contender as it’s the third and finishing touch to an outfit – bar accessories, of course. I’m thrilled to be partnering up with Everlane again in this post, to talk about an iconic transitional season essential: the denim jacket.

I’ve had a few denim jackets in my time, and they’ve always proven to be worth their weight in gold as a wardrobe basic. They’re essentially a neutral, and I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but they go with basically everything.

I was particularly drawn to this month’s newest iteration, the denim chore jacket, and boy do I feel like I hit the jackpot with this one. The denim feels lived in; it’s a super soft cotton, it’s lightweight, and the relaxed nature of the silhouette feels like a fresh take on this wardrobe classic. Like most jackets I have from Everlane, I sized down to an XS so that it wouldn’t feel too boxy or oversized in the shoulders. I’m quite narrow on my upper half, so I find a closer fit is much more flattering on my frame, and sizing wise, this feels pretty close to a traditional size AU8.

I thought today it would be fun to highlight three reasons why you should have a denim jacket in your wardrobe, as well as three of the (limitless) ways to wear it. Let’s dive in with reason number one…

---

#1: THE DENIM JACKET IS A CLASSIC WARDROBE STAPLE

Take a scroll back through the archives of my blog, and you’ll see a familiar piece pop up again and again: the denim jacket. I’ve had white, faded black, acid wash and a denim jacket in a typical mid-blue rinse across so many different styles, whether that be cropped, moto-style or super-oversized. The point I’m getting at here is that a denim jacket is a classic wardrobe staple. It never goes out of fashion, and is a timeless piece to have in your closet.

#2: YOU CAN WEAR IT ALL YEAR ROUND

A good denim jacket is one of the few wardrobe staples you’ll actually be able to reach for year round. While they’re traditionally seen as more of a lightweight transitional jacket for spring through to autumn, with the right styling you can also incorporate them into your winter outfits too. Being made from cotton, they’re breathable, and the lightweight nature of the style means it is perfect for layering. For an interesting outfit combination, you could wear your denim jacket under a blazer – perhaps cinched at the waist for added visual interest.

#3: THEY GO WITH E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G

Denim on denim, floral dresses, gingham skirts, wide leg trousers, athleisurewear or tailored trousers. You name it, you can wear a denim jacket with it. I’ve mentioned it before, but one of my key qualifiers for adding anything to my wardrobe is versatility. If I can wear it with at least three outfits – well, ideally five or more – then I’m set. With a denim jacket, the opportunities are endless.

OUTFIT ONE: SUMMER CHIC

One thing I didn’t realise my wardrobe was missing, was a simple cotton t-shirt dress. It can get so hot and humid in Sydney over the summer, that easy-breezy dressing becomes a bit of a way of life. And loose fitting garments in natural fibres tend to be my style go-to’s. Because it’s such a straight up and down silhouette, I wanted to pair this with the denim jacket to break it up and add visual interest.

Originally I’d actually paired this outfit with my persimmon editor slingback flats; a fun look that I think would be perfect for 4th of July if you live in the US. The pointed toe had more of a polished look, and I wanted to keep the outfit fairly relaxed so opted for my block heeled sandals instead. I found that this served as less of a distraction from the denim jacket, which is undeniably the hero of this look.

WEARING
Everlane t-shirt dress (size S)
Everlane denim chore jacket (size XS)
Everlane block heeled sandals (size US9.5)
3.1 by Phillip Lim mini pashli bag
Mejuri pearl earrings & bracelet
Linjer watch

OUTFIT TWO: DOUBLE DENIM

I couldn’t style up a denim jacket without sharing a double denim look. If you wear jeans almost daily like I do, then chances are the thought of wearing the Canadian tuxedo has crossed your mind. While it’s more of a polarising outfit combination, I think pulling it off all comes down to the styling.

The key thing here is to break up the denim with a top that really pops. To contrast against the rich mid-blue hue of the jacket, I decided to go with a simple white shirt. It feels fresh, and the brighter element helps to subdue the denim on denim pairing. Rather than tuck the shirt in the whole way, I left a couple of the bottom buttons undone, and tucked it in a little on the left side. This feels much more relaxed, and the little hint of shirt peeking out of the bottom of the jacket again provides that visual break between the two denim pieces. I also decided to fold over the sleeves for a bit of continuity.

For a more subtle look, you could opt to pair the denim chore jacket with some white or faded black skinny jeans. It’s slightly softer, and won’t seem to obvious that you’ve paired two denim pieces together.

WEARING
Everlane white shirt (size 4)
Everlane denim chore jacket (size XS)
Re/Done skinny crop jeans (size 25)
Everlane day heels (size US9.5)
Mejuri pearl earrings & bracelet

OUTFIT THREE: MONOCHROME WITH A HINT OF DENIM

My day to day outfits tend to be focused around two core colours (or shades if we’re getting technical); black and white. For the final look I wanted to show how Everlane’s denim chore jacket could add a bit of richness and warmth to one of my go-to transitional outfits.

Rather than slip my arms into the sleeves, I’ve casually thrown the denim jacket over my shoulders. I tend to do this a lot when I want just a little bit of extra warmth.

The cotton link-textured sweater is another one of Everlane’s new arrivals, and I have to say, it’s a serious gem. It’s heavyweight and substantial, and I like how the subtle link weave detail stops it from feeling flat. If you’re unable to wear woollen sweaters, then this is one worth looking at as it’s not only a great transitional piece, but would also work well layering under a cotton turtleneck for the cooler months too.

Not pictured are the shoes I wore with this outfit; the new suede day gloves. Having now had the chance to trial all three iterations of the day glove style, I’ve definitely settled on a favourite. I shared a comparison of the reknit and original leather day glove styles HERE if you’d like to have a read. Spoiler alert, the reknit pair are probably still my favourite, but the suede come in a close second. They seem to fit a little wider than the original leather pair, and the soft suede material has much more give so I haven’t experienced any pinching. Essentially, they’re snug without feeling too snug – which is great news if you have wide feet like me.

WEARING
Everlane cotton sweater (size S)
Everlane patch pocket skirt (size 0)
Everlane denim chore jacket (size XS)
Mejuri pearl earrings & bracelet

Which of the three looks was your favourite?

Thank you again to Everlane for partnering with me on this post.