1/25/2017
THE JEAN JACKET: AN AMERICAN ICON
1/25/2017
Independence. Revolution. Rebellion. If any single piece of clothing in American history has had nine lives, it would undoubtedly be the denim jacket.
Specifically made to accompany denim work trousers—or what we now simply call “jeans”—the first denim jacket appeared in the early 1900s in the form of a work shirt. Its sturdy durability appealed to miners, farmers and ranchers and soon became the unofficial uniform of the blue-collar, working class.
Specifically made to accompany denim work trousers—or what we now simply call “jeans”—the first denim jacket appeared in the early 1900s in the form of a work shirt. Its sturdy durability appealed to miners, farmers and ranchers and soon became the unofficial uniform of the blue-collar, working class.
This first version was simple in design. Featuring one front, flapless pocket and an adjustable back tab with a silver buckle, this barebones iteration would serve as the blueprint for all versions to follow.
THE COWBOY
By the 1930s, pop culture and American cinema continued to fuel the rough-and-tumble reputation of the denim jacket with John Wayne immortalizing what would become the archetypal image of the cowboy. Evolving with the popularity of Hollywood westerns, the redesign was cut shorter and slimmer, with features geared towards life on the range. Slanted pockets meant easier access whilst horse riding and a wider waistband made for a sturdier, structured fit that wouldn’t fold or ride up.
THE REBEL
As WWII took full effect, the denim jacket returned back to its rugged roots. American factory workers wore denim from head to toe during their nine-to-five days and this became, again, the symbol of the hardworking American.
As the war ended, the denim jacket took on new meaning and a new design. To wear denim outside of the factory meant to reject conformity and societal norms. Biker gangs and beat poets further fanned the anti-mainstream flames by adopting it as their clothing of choice.
Through the ‘50s, the rebellious, sexual and dangerous images of denim-clad bad boys like Marlon Brando, James Dean and Elvis Presley sparked inspiration in teens across the nation. By then, the denim jacket had nearly reached the version that we now recognize as the “trucker jacket”. Most notably, its tailored design no longer sported an adjustable back tab and donned two chest pockets with pointed flaps.
Enter the ‘70s and the rise of the punk rock movement. Bands like the Ramones and the Clash topped their t-shirt and jeans with a studded denim jacket and a fresh disdain for authority. Kids in the underground subculture followed, pushing the denim jacket into full-on anti-establishment mode.
Fast forward to current day, denim jackets continue to reemerge as vintage collectibles and contemporary reimaginings. Frayed, oversized, shrunken, cropped, embellished—today’s iterations run the gamut. But whether you choose to channel a bygone era or reinvent the classic completely, one thing is true: The denim jacket, in all its iterations, still stands for individuality in America’s sartorial history.
Through the ‘50s, the rebellious, sexual and dangerous images of denim-clad bad boys like Marlon Brando, James Dean and Elvis Presley sparked inspiration in teens across the nation. By then, the denim jacket had nearly reached the version that we now recognize as the “trucker jacket”. Most notably, its tailored design no longer sported an adjustable back tab and donned two chest pockets with pointed flaps.
THE ROCKER
Enter the ‘70s and the rise of the punk rock movement. Bands like the Ramones and the Clash topped their t-shirt and jeans with a studded denim jacket and a fresh disdain for authority. Kids in the underground subculture followed, pushing the denim jacket into full-on anti-establishment mode.
THE MODERN
Fast forward to current day, denim jackets continue to reemerge as vintage collectibles and contemporary reimaginings. Frayed, oversized, shrunken, cropped, embellished—today’s iterations run the gamut. But whether you choose to channel a bygone era or reinvent the classic completely, one thing is true: The denim jacket, in all its iterations, still stands for individuality in America’s sartorial history.
