Jess Cartner-Morley declares that slouchy jeans paired with a short jacket is the new power suit, replacing the longline blazer for a more relaxed yet polished look. This combination offers a no-nonsense, comfortable formula for daytime wear, suitable for various settings from offices to casual outings.
The Yin and Yang of Jeans and a Jacket
Jeans and a jacket work on the principle of balance: jeans are laid-back and democratic, while a jacket—whether a crisp tailored blazer or a jazzy boucle tweed—adds polish. Unlike jeans and a jumper, which can be dull, or a matching two-piece suit, which may feel too formal, this pairing hits the sweet spot. It is grown-up but not stiff, alpha but not snooty, and offers flexibility for changing temperatures.
Updating the Formula: Short Jacket, Slouchy Jeans
To update the classic jeans-and-jacket look, fashion now favors a shorter jacket. Designers like Jonathan Anderson at Dior and Matthieu Blazy at Chanel have introduced cropped blazers. Anderson shrunk the Dior "bar" jacket so the peplum flares at the waist, while Blazy's sharp-shouldered cropped blazer has been worn by Jacob Elordi and Michelle Obama. Pairing a short jacket with slouchier jeans often reveals a flash of the top underneath, adding a louche, exciting charm.
Choosing the Right Top
The top underneath is a key choice. Shirts can look expensive and imply effort, but they may clash with a jacket's neckline. Cartner-Morley recommends a good T-shirt instead—plain white for simplicity, or a slogan or band T-shirt for intrigue. The jeans-and-jacket formula allows personalization: adjust the jacket length, jean fit, and top to suit your taste. As Cartner-Morley notes, "The slightly undone effect is part of the charm, and what makes this summer's jeans-and-a-jacket a little more louche and exciting than the longline blazer version."
