The trucker jacket is a garment with character. Toss one on and you’ve got an instant air of James Dean sangfroid. Or perhaps you’re going for a hint of Joey Ramone punk rock rebellion. Marlboro man more your speed? Any way you cut it, a trucker jacket spells attitude—but with a light touch (we’ll save leather moto jackets for another day). There’s a subtlety and versatility to trucker jackets that make them a workhorse in many men’s wardrobes.
Like most anything denim, the trucker’s story begins with Levi Strauss & Co. After pioneering blue jeans, the brand introduced its first denim “blouse” in 1905 as the outerwear equivalent of its hard-wearing pants. It was defined by a boxy fit, double-pleated front, rivet buttons and a single chest pocket. In 1953 it evolved into the Type II, which built upon the original’s workwear design with side tab adjusters and an additional chest pocket. It is the Type III, introduced in 1967, that set the template for most truckers we know today: vertical seams in place of its predecessors’ pleats, smaller chest pockets and the addition of warmer pockets.
As far as design goes, it is a pretty faultless specimen. In the years since, few have been able to improve upon its basic form. The materials, however, have moved far beyond classic indigo-dyed denim. The trucker is transformed into a luxurious off-duty layer when rendered in things like suede, woven cashmere and corduroy. While it’s no replacement for the polish of a blazer, a trucker jacket is an indispensable topper to have in your outerwear arsenal. Here are nine of the best to buy now.
A.P.C. Denim Jacket
A textbook denim trucker, upgraded. A.P.C.’s jacket features stonewashed Japanese denim with a more tailored cut and elevated details like trim along the edges of the chest pocket flaps. It’s an all-around classic you can rely on for years and years to come.
Kapital ‘Cactus’ Indigo Denim Coverall
Japanese brand Kapital has a cult following for its reverent takes on American workwear, like this chore coat in a hefty 12 oz. indigo-dyed denim. While not a traditional trucker silhouette, it maintains the original’s utilitarian attitude.
Valstar Suede Trucker Jacket
Italian brand Valstar is best known for its buttery soft suede bombers. Lovely as those are, the same sumptuous material feels significantly cooler in a trucker. The rich brick red hue is ideally suited to autumnal attire, from camel sweaters to gun check trousers. This is workwear for the leisure class.
Moncler Genius x Craig Green Indigo Denim Jacket
If you are looking for something with a bit more polish than the classic trucker, we’d suggest this streamlined option from Craig Green’s collaboration with Moncler. It is distinguished by what it lacks: vertical seams on the front, flaps on the pockets, shiny silver hardware. The differences are subtle but they make for a uniquely clean, minimalist denim jacket.
The Workers Club Japanese Selvedge Denim Jacket
A blue jean jacket is a wardrobe essential. If you’ve already got that covered, expand your repertoire with this trucker in a cream-colored Japanese selvedge. The warm neutral hue is a brilliant match for all manner of khakis and tans and can easily be smartened up with more tailored clothing.
Acne Studios ‘Dagnite’ Wool Twill Jacket
It’s not denim and not what you might typically identify as a trucker, but Acne Studios’ handsome wool twill jacket demonstrates the style’s range. It follows the same basic lines as the classic, but the plush wool fabric and refined buttons make for an altogether more elegant off-duty layer.
RRL ‘Cowboy’ Patch Pocket Denim Jacket
An astute scholar of all things Western, Ralph Lauren gives us his faithful recreation of Levi’s Type II trucker jacket. From the pleats to the placement of the pockets, it is true to the rare vintage models collectors hunt. Also true to its vintage inspiration: the perfectly patinated wash and whiskering.
Tom Ford Leather Trucker Jacket
Combining two menswear staples in one, Tom Ford’s leather trucker jacket is a double-whammy of off-duty chic. It has all the attitude of a denim jacket but in slick burgundy lambskin. The cut is tailored, the details are refined—a real beauty.
1017 Alyx 9SM x Stüssy Denim Jacket
This boxy jacket’s silhouette nods to old school workwear, while the graphic white topstitching recalls ’90s streetwear. The Loro Piana denim, however, puts this jacket squarely in luxury territory. It’s a deeply cool piece of outerwear—but would you expect any less from a collaboration between 1017 Alyx 9SM and Stüssy?
Author: Kareem Rashed
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