A man’s denim jean jacket might be one of his most effective stylistic tools if he knows how to use it. It’s one of the most adaptable pieces of outerwear there is, a heavy-duty workhorse that can be paired with everything from tailoring to trainers and a sweatshirt.

Despite this, many men steer clear of wearing one for the simple reason that styling one may be difficult. If you do it correctly, you’ll look and act just like Ryan Gosling, strolling through the airport on your way to the Cannes Film Festival. However, if you get it wrong, you’ll end up like the cowboy from Village People. Unfortunately, there isn’t much room for compromise.

We’ve decided to take it upon ourselves to offer you a crash course on how to pull off one of menswear’s most classic clothing in order to assist you in avoiding appearing like the latter when you don your denim.

Double Denim

Pairing denim with denim would undoubtedly be among the first items on any list of the seven deadly sins of menswear. This is a typical misunderstanding. Doubling up on your denim is not an easy task, but it can be done, and when done well, it is one of the most striking fashion statements a guy can make.

Balancing your denim’s shades is key to pulling off this trendy style. Like pieces shouldn’t be worn together, such as stonewash jeans and a stonewash jacket, unless you’re trying to make a statement. Instead, mix up your colors. A good place to start is with a lighter wash top and dark raw denim down below.

Blue Collar

Given that the denim jacket—and all denim apparel, for that matter—was designed with labor-intensive physical labor in mind, it only makes sense that it would be at home when worn as a component of an outfit with workwear influences.

Here, quality and toughness are paramount. You want to pair your denim jacket with clothes that will not only look beautiful on you but also last for many years to come.

Try pairing a thick flannel shirt with a denim jacket with a borg collar. Even better, pair them with a simple white T-shirt and wear them open. Choose dark, straight-leg, selvedge jeans for the bottom. Finally, put on a pair of reliable leather boots, and you’re ready to head to the workshop—or just the bar.

When Tailored

No, we haven’t fully lost our minds. Contrary to common thought, you can wear a denim jacket with tailored clothing. in particular, a pair of tailored pants. This outfit actually has casual clothing on top and smart clothing on the bottom, giving the phrase “smart-casual” a new meaning.

Think black, gray, or raw when choosing a dark denim jacket to go with this. Finish off your upper half with some optional accessories, such as a good pair of sunglasses, a fisherman beanie, or perhaps both. Slot a black roll-neck or crew-neck jumper below.

Select a pair of slim-leg, charcoal-colored wool pants for the “sophisticated” portion. Add some pleats to boost the chic factor. Don’t forget to round off the appearance by donning a pair of black leather Derby shoes.

Weekend Informal

While experimenting with tailoring and business attire is fine, your weekend wardrobe is when the denim jacket really shines. This is fundamentally a casual item of clothing, therefore it goes well with the majority of your regular clothes.

Pair a mid-wash trucker jacket with a simple T-shirt and cuff the sleeves throughout the warmer months of the year. Next, put on a pair of chinos (beige or navy are also good choices), and finish the look with a pair of plain white shoes.

An All-black Aesthetic

The denim jacket has become somewhat of a rockstar itself after being adopted by several musical subcultures, including punk, metal, and greasers to mention a few. And what could be more rock ‘n’ roll than donning all black?

Going all black has the extra benefit of being incredibly slimming and will never go out of style.

Arm yourself with some slim-fit black or charcoal-washed jeans and a pair of black leather Chelsea boots to start from the bottom up. Next, put on a black shirt or tee, depending on the situation, and then cover yourself with your black denim jacket. You could dress in the dark. It was that simple.

College Ivy

Even if denim isn’t precisely one of the fashion pillars of the Ivy League, the two do have a long history together. Since the working class is the group most impacted by racial discrimination and the draught, protesting college students started donning jeans and denim jackets in the 1960s.

Although the justification for it has mostly been forgotten, the denim jacket still has a place in American collegiate fashion. It may therefore be worn successfully as a component of an ensemble with a preppy feel.

The layering is the secret. A dark-wash denim jacket may be worn as a midlayer inside a puffer jacket or parka, or as a light outer layer over a crew-neck sweater and Oxford shirt, depending on the season. Finish it off with a pair of khakis that are only for show and suede or canvas sneakers.

Sea Stripes

For your upcoming sailing trip, a denim jacket might not be the most practical pick for outerwear, but we’d be lying if we claimed it didn’t look the part when paired with a few seafaring essentials.

Anything besides white will work nicely here in terms of washing. Preserve stonewash for casual occasions and roll out the black, raw, and mid-wash when things require a little smartening up since the darker the jacket, generally the dressier it appears. The overall objective is to maintain a blue-based color scheme.

White is off-limits for jackets, so choose cream or white for your leggings, and add a Breton top to accentuate the marine theme. Boat shoes seem to be the logical choice, but choosing footwear actually boils down to personal style.

Located in the Center

There are many reasons to adore the denim jacket, but one of the most important is how well it layers. An excellent one may serve as a lightweight jacket during warm weather, a tough top layer during transitional periods, and a middle layer when the weather really deteriorates.

The cropped, low-profile cut of the denim jacket makes it ideal for slipping on over knits or even just a T-shirt and tucking beneath a thick winter coat.

Layer with traditional pieces like a wool jacket and a basic white shirt for a look that is always in trend. Stick to some shade of indigo for the denim jacket to maintain tradition, but if you’re going to wear pants, make sure there is enough contrast with your undergarments.

The color of your leggings is the next factor to take into account. Avoid using pastels or bright colors and stick to deep, dark hues like navy, forest green, or black. When it comes to shoes, a pair of white sneakers may help put the jacket in perspective with the rest of the ensemble or you can match the shoes to your bottoms, leaving the jacket to be the main piece.