The Denim Jacket is Back in Style

Even though it had been done to death in some places and in some ways, there are still few things that say 'cool' like a denim jacket- if you can pull one off, that is.  Because while denim jackets were way rad starting in the 50s, they sort of gone out of style.  Up until very recently, it had seemed that they are wearable only by models and cowboy types.  Country singers and fans of country music could still wear them and not look awkward.  Men would often wear them to get a tough-guy look, while women still had considerably more freedom if they choose to wear a ladies denim jacket.  While it's likely that everybody you know was wearing jeans at least some of the time, the denim jacket had become all but extinct outside of these circles.  Practices like wearing all denim caused negative associations to be made with denim jackets, as did the popularity of jeans- if you wear jeans all the time, you don't have too many opportunities to wear denim up top, too.  But denim is actually making a comeback in higher fashion, as tends to happen with everything that was once cool, went out of style, and is coming back again.  You see them on many celebrities these days, who are best poised to make wearing denim look cool because they can afford designer denim, a phrase which is an oxymoron to many.  But take heart- denim jackets are officially back in style, and soon, it may be possible for us mere mortals to don the denim jacket once more, though by that time it may be going out of style again.  For women especially, there are all sorts of new designs out and there no excuse for not finding the perfect jacket from the large selection of denim jackets for women.  And while the mens denim jacket has changed less, there are also solid choices for men who want to don denim on their torsos.  The fun doesn't stop there, either, as girls and boys denim jackets are back in style too.  Seize the moment if you want to wear denim as more than just jeans!

As a jacket, denim is impractical for real cold weather. Cotton does not have the best insulating qualities, and is actually cooling if it gets wet. As denim jackets are usually quite thin compared to a real winter coat, their use is really limited to brisk weather. However, the toughness of denim means that it will withstand tearing and other damage quite well, making it suitable for outdoor work or activities where it's good to have some protection for the skin. And actually, the main appeal of denim may be its tactile qualities. Because it's relatively heavy and stiff compared to other fabrics, putting on a denim jacket can feel like putting on light armor. You can really feel it on you.
Of course women get all the choices when it comes to clothing, and one style that is available to women on is the cropped denim jacket. This is a short denim jacket that is cut off at around the bottom ribs, creating an interesting look that can be cute or sexy. It accents the chest and brings attention to a woman's waist by leaving it uncovered, so I guess it's more sexy than cute. The cropped denim jacket can be a great layering tool that shows off what you are wearing underneath, so make sure what you wear underneath is compatible. This look is hot right now in the world of women's denim jackets, so jump on it as it's a bit unconventional and may not last for long!

When choosing a denim jacket, there will be many choices to be made in terms of the type of denim you want.  There are actually many different ways to produce denim, each of which yields a different look and feel.  The most basic and "unprocessed" is dry denim, also known as raw denim.  This is the denim that hasn't been washed after dying to give it the "distressed", or faded look.  Usually, faded jeans are what look cool and that's the look people go for when they buy pre-stressed denim clothing that is already faded.  However, raw denim will achieve this look with use, and some prefer the more natural fade that occurs this way.  Some vintage denim jackets are really great because they have a natural worn look, and may be a lot softer to wear as well. 
Another type of denim is selvage denim.  Selvage denim is woven in such a way that the edges of the material do not fray.  It also shows in the pattern of the weave.
When we think denim jackets, what comes to mind is probably a faded blue garment.  However, denim jackets are also available in black, red, pink, and other colors.  There are two basic dying processes used to give color to the cotton fabric- indigo dyeing and sulfur dyeing, or color denim.  Indigo is natural dye that creates blues and variations of blue, while sulfur is used for all other colors.