How To Break In A Jean Jacket | Easy Ways To Soften Stiff Denim

December 19, 2022

There’s nothing like the soft, worn-in feel of a jean jacket. Here’s how to break in a jean jacket quickly!

Picture this: You’ve just bought a brand-new denim jacket and you’re so excited to put it on. When you do, it feels stiff, almost crunchy, and a bit uncomfortable.

Ugh! You’ve probably experienced the feeling of a stiff denim jacket before. It’s not fun and you’ve probably told yourself to “give it time.”

What if I told you that there are quick and easy ways to speed up this process? Keep reading to find out how to break in a jean jacket in no time.

Disclosure: Vain Affair is reader-supported. When you buy through affiliate links on our website, we’ll make a small commission, without impacting your price. Thank you. Learn more.

In This Post ➜

How To Break In A Jean Jacket
How To Soften A Denim Jacket Without Washing
How To Soften Denim Jacket With Vinegar
How To Shrink A Denim Jacket
Caring For Your Jean Jacket
How To Wear A Denim Jacket
Frequently Asked Questions

How To Break In A Jean Jacket

When you first get a jean jacket, it may feel stiff and restrictive. Breaking in a jean jacket will help it conform and fit better to your body.

Once it’s broken in, the denim fabric is softer and pliable, which will make it feel more comfortable to wear.

A gentle reminder–breaking in a jean jacket to perfection will take time and patience. Most jean jackets won’t fit perfectly right away, so it’s completely normal if it feels stiff.

With regular wear and some effort, you can have a jean jacket that is molded to fit you perfectly. That’s the beauty of owning it!

How To Soften A Denim Jacket Without Washing

Washing a denim jacket can cause it to lose shape and color over time. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you don’t wash it until you’ve broken the jean jacket in completely.

Keep in mind that the time that it takes to break in a jean jacket will be different depending on the type of denim. For instance, pre-washed denim will be easier to break in and mold to your body shape.

In contrast, raw denim, or denim that hasn’t been chemically treated, is stiffer and harder to break in.

Here are some simple ways you can follow that will help you break in a denim jacket fast without washing it. These are also great ways to prepare a denim jacket for soaking with vinegar (more on that later!).

Wear It Often

This tried and true method may be the slowest of the methods on how to break in a jean jacket, but it works! If you want to break in raw denim, you’ll want to wear it as often as possible.

It might be tempting to avoid wearing your stiff jean jacket, but it will never be properly broken in if you never do this! This means wearing it around the house and whenever you head out.

Also, try not to wash the denim jacket until it is completely broken in. When you do wash it, use cold water and hang it dry to keep its shape.

Use A Hammer

Yes, you heard me right! A hammer will help loosen up the fibers. Use a hammer to pound the fabric until it softens and feels more pliable.

This will help the denim jacket stretch and conform to your body. Be careful, though! You don’t want to use too much force that’ll cause tears or rips.

Repeat the pounding process until the jean jacket stretches and feels comfortable. Finally, wash it with cold water and hang it dry to keep the shape that you created.

Warm It Up

One of the simplest ways to start softening denim jackets is to warm up the denim fabric. You can easily do this by throwing the jean jacket in the dryer for a few minutes or even wearing the jacket outside for some time.

Once the denim is warmed up, it’s primed for stretching. Stretch the fabric by hand lightly or engage in light exercise. Avoid overstretching or you will risk damaging the fabric.

Over time, your denim jacket will get softer and more comfortable!

How To Soften Denim Jacket With Vinegar

Believe it or not, vinegar is a natural denim fabric softener. To soften a denim jacket with vinegar, you’ll need white vinegar and a bucket.

The white vinegar will not only help preserve the color, but it will prevent dye-bleeding.

Follow these steps to make a denim-softening solution with vinegar:

Mix 8 cups of hot tap water with 1 cup of white vinegar in a bucket.
Immerse the denim jacket in the liquid mixture.
Soak the denim jacket for a couple of hours or overnight.
Put your jeans in the dry on the lowest heat setting.
Roll the denim jacket into a tight ball and tie it together with a long piece of fabric. If you do this immediately after they come out of the dryer, the lingering heat will stretch the denim and loosen the fabric.
Wash the denim jacket again with warm water and no detergent.
Dry them again on the lowest heat setting with tennis balls. These tennis balls will soften and “massage” the denim as it’s tumbling around.

How To Shrink A Denim Jacket

Sometimes a jean jacket is too oversized. It may have lost its shape over time or you’re in-between sizes. These methods on how to shrink a denim jacket will allow you to adjust the overall shape so that it fits closer to your body.

With just hot water and heat, you can shrink a denim jacket. Here are a few methods on how to do this.

Use The Washer & Dryer

The washer and dryer method is a classic technique to shrink clothing in general. All you need to do is wash the denim jacket in hot water and dry it in a high-heat setting.

Here’s how to use this method:

Turn the denim jacket inside out to avoid fading.
Wash the jacket in hot water. The hot water will contract the fibers and make the jacket shrink faster.
Put the jacket in the dryer in the highest heat setting. This will shrink the jean jacket further.
Repeat this process, if necessary, to shrink the denim jacket even more.

Boiling Water

If you don’t have access to a washing machine, boiling a pot of water is the next best-shrinking method. Here’s how to use this method:

Turn the denim jacket inside out to avoid fading.
Boil water in a large pot and place the jacket inside.
Turn the heat down to a simmer and let the jacket stay in there for 30 minutes.
Drain out the water from the pot and carefully remove the jacket from the pot. Handle the jacket with caution because it will be scalding!
You can either hang the jacket up to dry or put it in a dryer in the highest heat setting.

A Hot Iron

Another great method on how to shrink a denim jacket is to use a clothing iron. This technique is great for shrinking specific areas, such as the sleeves.

Here’s how to do it:

Turn the denim jacket inside out to avoid fading.
Spray the entire denim jacket or specific parts with hot water.
Place the jacket on an ironing board and iron the entire jacket or parts with the iron on the highest heat setting.

Voila! Your jean jacket should have shrunk a little bit.

Keep in mind that the shrinkage can differ based on the fabric and construction of the jacket. Don’t be afraid to repeat the same method or try a different one until you get the desired results.

Caring For Your Jean Jacket

A jean jacket can last a very long time as long as you take proper care of it. The way you wash and maintain it can prolong its life.

Here’s how to care properly for your jean jacket, so that it will continue to look great for years to come:

Make sure to flip your jean jacket inside out. This will protect the outer fabric and prevent the dyes from fading. It will also clean the inside of the jacket efficiently.
Avoid harsh detergents with lots of chemicals. This will make the dye fade faster and loosen the denim’s natural stiffness. Go for mild or natural detergents instead.
Spot clean whenever possible. This is a lot gentler than putting your entire denim jacket through a wash cycle. It’s as simple as dabbing a soapy cloth on the stained spots.
Always wash your denim jacket in cold water and use the delicate cycle to prolong the life of your denim jacket.
Don’t hang up your jacket on a clothes hanger. Typical hangers will create indents near the shoulders. It will also affect the strength and shape of the garment over time. Instead, flat dry on a towel or hang it over a straight wire.
Hand wash the denim jacket for the most gentle clean. Do this by soaking your denim jacket in cold water mixed with mild detergent for at least an hour. Then, rub any stained areas gently and rinse with cold water.

How To Wear A Denim Jacket

A denim jacket is an essential layering piece for casual outfits. You’ll find me wearing them all the time in the spring and fall seasons!

Here are some of my favorite ways to wear a jean jacket. Let the inspiration begin!

White T-Shirt + Jeans + Sneakers

This is a classic casual outfit. Just throw on a denim jacket over this ensemble and you’re ready to go! Be sure to check out these tips on how to wear a denim jacket with jeans to avoid fashion disasters.

Shop The Outfit:

Dress + Sandals

Pair a denim jacket with a dress and sandals for a perfect spring or summer outfit. A jean jacket will go well with any dress length–from mini to maxi.

You can even swap out the sandals for boots in the fall and thigh-high boots in the winter!

Shop The Outfit:

White Button Down + Wide Leg Trousers

Dress down a business casual look with a jean jacket. Pair a white button-down with beige wide-leg trousers.

For shoes, go for loafers or kitten heels. Top it off with your denim jacket for this chic look!

Shop The Outfit:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need To Break In A Jean Jacket?

It’s not necessary to break in a jean jacket, but it will be considerably more comfortable. A denim jacket that isn’t broken in is stiff and can feel rough against the skin.

In contrast, a broken jean jacket will feel softer and its shape will feel more tailored to your body. You can naturally break in a jean jacket by wearing it over time.

Are Jean Jackets Supposed To Be Tight?

Jean jackets should be snug, but not too tight. You’re meant to layer underneath after all!

Keep in mind that denim jackets tend to look bulky, which automatically creates a bulkier look. Stick to your typical size when shopping for denim jackets.

Some denim jackets come oversized, so they’re meant to be loose. Check the denim jacket style to determine what the appropriate fit should be!

Does Denim Get Looser Over Time?

Yes, with repeated wear, denim fabric will loosen up and get softer over time. This can take anywhere from 30 to 60 wears to break it in.

If you need additional ways to loosen up a jean jacket, check out my tips above on how to soften a denim jacket without washing or with vinegar.

How Many Times Can You Wear A Jean Jacket Before Washing?

It’s highly recommended to wash a jean jacket as infrequently as possible. This will help prolong the life of a jean jacket.

The rule of thumb is to only wash them every 10 wears. However, you should also wash it every time it gets dirty and can’t be spot cleaned.

I hope you enjoyed these methods on how to break in a jean jacket. Let me know which one was your favorite!

Disclosure: Vain Affair is reader-supported. When you buy through affiliate links on our website, we’ll make a small commission, without impacting your price. Thank you. Learn more.

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How To Break In A Jean Jacket | Easy Ways To Soften Stiff Denim

There’s nothing like the soft, worn-in feel of a jean jacket. Here’s how to break in a jean jacket quickly!

How To Break In A Jean Jacket