Can I still wear it? My friendly old jean jacket

By Manda

I might be tipping my hand here a bit, but I have to ask you all something:

Can I still get away with wearing my beloved ten-plus-year-old Gap jean jacket?

Before you answer that, let me tell you a few things. Number one: I never, ever wear it with jeans. I promise. Number two: This is one of the items of clothing I own that helps me gauge if I am at a healthy weight. If it slides right on, I'm good. No scale needed! Number three: I tend to pair this with dresses, and last spring/summer I wore it with my three cotton maxi dresses all the time if I needed a change-up from my usual cardigan. Yes, this has been washed and worn a million times and is patched just above the left shoulder blade (I had a run-in with a wall frame a few years ago, long story). It is a nostalgic item of clothing that I will never ever part with. I do not, however, insist on wearing it out if it's totally lame to do so. That's where you come in!

What I really want to know is this: When you see someone out in public in a jean jacket of this style, what is your reaction? Is it "Hey, 1996 called and said she wants her jacket back!" or can I still get away with it? I'm dying to know.

And while you're at it, please give me a shout-out if you're still holding on to your old jean jacket and can't bear to part with it. Thank you.

(And here's a more modern twist on the jean jacket if you suddenly MUST have one because you're sad that you put your old standby in the Goodwill bag. Just promise us you won't wear it out in public with a pair of jeans, ok?)

Comments

[Christina]

Totally looking forward to the answers! I have one that's about 5 years old and in perfect shape from J.Crew and its a really nice wash, but, it's been in my closet for years waiting for a sign that they're in again.

[Meaghan]

I am still holding on to my 5+ year old Jean jacket because I can't bare to get rid if it. I dontwear it often because you can usually find me in jeans, but I do love it with casual dresses. I say "keep" in hopes that it will
mean I can keep mine :)

[Emily]

I still wear mine. THERE! I SAID IT! I didn't wear it as often in the last few years, but that's because I find my range of motion to be more limited in it than in a cardigan, and with the kids... well, you know how much you bend and stretch when you're out with kids.

I vote WEAR IT

[Carrisa]

I think your jacket looks way better than the one you linked to.

I wear mine. And it's not ancient. I just bought it last year at Target. I say you are good to go!

[susan]

no offense here, ladies, but jean jackets are terribly dated. please...give them to goodwill and go out and purchase a smart blazer for yourselves. you deserve it!

[Elizabeth]

I love jean jackets with dresses, but maybe you shouldn't be listening to me, since I kind of also wish we could still wear overalls and am obviously trapped in 1994.

[Elizabeth]

I think it depends on what you wear it with and how it fits you (or rather where it falls on your body length wise) If its a shorter jacket or maybe cropped a bit, it would probably look pretty dated.

On the other hand if you love it (and don't wear it with jeans lol) then you should totally rock it!

[natalie]

I totally still wear mine too, though I stay far away from the double denim.

[Leah]

Mine's tucked away in the closet (it's in good shape, but the cut's a little boxy to be considered in style right now), but I have faith that its day will come again soon!

[barbetti]

I don't have any now because it's hard to find some that fit my bust without allowing my waist to disappear. But I have a photo on Facebook of me wearing the one jean jacket I've ever had and my husband says it's "the hottest photo" of me ever. So, hey. Keep it!

[Shoe Lush]

I still have two in my closet and wear them with skirts or dresses when the feeling strikes me.

I tend to roll the sleeve a bit to make them more fresh looking.

*shrug*

It's not hammer pants, so I don't worry about it!

[HollyLynne]

I've kept mine, but I don't wear them. Not like I'd LAUGH or anything if I saw someone wearing an older one . . . I think they can totally still work and I dig the sentimental value. Darker washes and narrower cuts are just more modern looking, in my opinion.

[A'Dell]

The jean jacket is a staple in my life - seriously, 2x a week, to the office, AT LEAST.

I have two jackets. A dark wash one from J Crew (circa 2000) and a newer, darker one from Gap that I got last year.

I wear it in place of cardis, but, like Emily, it's impossible to wear around kids because of range of motion issues. It's far better suited for the desk and typing.

Jean jackets ROCK.

[Annie]

I'd still have mine, had it not been taken along with many of my other loves when my weekend bag went missing after my car was broken into. OKAY...when TIM'S car was broken into one day when *I* drove it to work. sigh. I loved that jacket. And maybe I'd still wear it, but I can't really say because maybe that's just the nostalgia speaking. Some help I am. Sorry, friend.