Among my many denim projects while at Fossil, my pièce de résistance was this amazing little denim jacket. Coming off of my denim jacket project at ANF, I had a strong knowledge base under me to get the fit of this piece dialed. And I worked on this pattern until it was damn near perfect. Every seam placement and shape was scrutinized to make sure it was flattering on a variety of bodies. The pockets were moved quarters of an inch at a time to make sure they didn’t create a dreaded saggy chest appearance. Lengths were tested for the body and the sleeves until they hit at the most flattering position. And then after all that, we poured over the stitching details, buttons and labels.
While I have had a fair number of favorite projects throughout my career, this one really felt like I came to life through this garment. My new position at Fossil had a lot more freedom than I’d ever had before in my work, and I was able to express my talent through the creation of this jacket. It somehow feels and looks like me when I put it on, and it brings comfort and warmth to my body and spirit when it’s with me. I know that all sounds super cheesy, but it’s hard to describe the connection that I have with this piece of clothing after spending so many hours on its design, fit and feel.
Clearly, I have a bit of a love affair with a good denim garment! But I truly believe that a classic denim jacket will never go out of style. When the weather is just perfect for a light jacket, my trusty denim friend is almost always my go-to item. It feels appropriate to pair with a t-shirt and jeans or with a pretty summer dress. This jacket often can be seen hanging on the back of one of our kitchen chairs, especially in the Spring when I tend to reach for it every day. It is almost a piece of our home that makes it feel like “us.”
I once made the mistake of donating my original version of this jacket when I was cleaning out my closet before a move. Almost immediately, I regretted that it was no longer a part of my wardrobe. Not only is the color great for pairing with anything, but it fit me just perfectly. A couple of years ago, I decided that I should stop longing for it and see if I could find a second-hand version online. Poshmark did not fail me! I had to scour photos of the various versions I was finding to make sure it was the right one. Its country of origin is unique among most other Fossil Denim Jackets, so that helped me to narrow it down. When I received it in the mail, it was like seeing an old friend show up at your doorstep. I will never let it go again.