For decades, the blue denim jacket has been the millennial uniform.
Thrown over dresses, paired with leggings, layered with scarves and boots, it was the one item that promised to ‘go with everything’.
But according to Gen Z, it now serves a very different purpose: exposing your age.
‘If I see you with a blue jean jacket on, I know you’re at least 31,’ a TikToker named Joce declared.
She doubled down, describing how the classic cropped and slightly-too-tight fit was the ultimate giveaway.
‘We pull out a blue jean jacket every time. You’re going to see me in a blue jean almost every day – it just goes with everything. It makes everything look good.
‘It has to be a little tight, you can barely move in it, I can’t even fasten it. You probably have the light blue and the dark blue. It hides the fat – look, my arm looks really skinny right now.’
‘If you still have that snug, mid-cut denim jacket lurking in your wardrobe, it’s time to Marie Kondo it,’ echoed stylistLattitia Taylor.
For decades, the blue denim jacket has been the millennial uniform
‘Just like the oversized blazer trend, the relaxed, loose denim jackets are the go-to style of outwear for 2025.
‘The unflattering mid-cut denim jacket can now thankfully stay in 2024, along with their low-rise jean counterparts’.
Joce’s comments hit a nerve with millennials, many of whom confessed to owning not just one jacket, but a whole colour-coded fleet.
‘You got me. I absolutely have the dark blue and the light blue,’ one wrote.
‘Plot twist, I got a black one and a white one too. I’m 45, so maybe that’s just what happens with age?’ another admitted.
Others were quick to defend the garment as a staple that simply refuses to die.
‘It’s my emotional support jacket. My mum had me in jean jackets since I was a toddler. I’d throw that thing over any outfit – no matter if it’s sweats or a wedding dress,’ one user wrote.
The millennial love affair with denim jackets is rooted in versatility.
The ‘Nancy Myers’ aesthetic pulls on the styles of her most famous movie characters (like Cameron Diaz in the The Holiday (pictured) and Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated). Think elevated, with comfortable cashmere, turtlenecks, silk skirts and a very neutral colour tone
‘Jean jacket over leggings, shorts, a dress, a skirt, tennis shoes, wedges, hair up, hair down, make it fancy, make it casual … it just goes with EVERYTHING,’ one nostalgic comment read.
Another proudly summed up the generational divide.
‘I’m a millennial, I have no interest in appearing to be younger. I’m wearing my denim jackets and no-show socks.’
But for Gen Z, the once-ubiquitous piece has fallen firmly into the ‘mumcore’ category – joining other millennial relics like infinity scarves, statement necklaces, and skinny jeans.
Instead, younger fashion lovers are moving towards oversized leather bombers, cropped racing jackets, and even tailored trenches.
It’s not just models and stylists setting the tone anymore either – throwback movies have also had a huge influence.
The ‘Nancy Meyers aesthetic’ has exploded, with fashion insiders putting it down to Australians dreaming of fresh-baked croissants, soft cashmere cardigans, and a kitchen worthy of a Hollywood film set.
If you’ve seen the actresses in any Nancy Meyers’ movies (think Cameron Diaz in The Holiday or Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated), you’ll already be familiar with this elevated, but comfy look.
The search for ‘Office Siren’ is already up 90% on Google, with the Met Gala encapsulating the aesthetic perfectly with the theme ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’. Pictured: Kendall Jenner (left) and Hailey Bieber (right) at the Met Gala 2025
Also on trend, the ‘Coastal Grandma’ look, popularised on TikTok, evokes a relaxed, elegant, and carefree vibe
It’s time to lean into fitted marle knits, turtlenecks, luxe loafers, leather riding boots and coats, silk skirts and crisp button-down shirts.
As for more corporate styles? Gen Zs have replaced ‘Corporate cool’ with ‘Office Siren’.
The Y2K vibe is a hit with celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner, who regularly don the look head-to-toe in pinstripe sets and knee-high boots.
According to Pinterest Australia, it’s the lovechild of ‘corporate-core’ (up 950 per cent) and ‘geek chic’ (up 870 per cent), which echoes the dark academia vibe with a touch of confidence.
Also on trend, the ‘Coastal Grandma’ look, popularised on TikTok, evokes a relaxed, elegant, and carefree vibe.
It is reminiscent of wealthy women living in picturesque seaside towns – think linen everything, relaxed fits, cosy knit cardigans, scuffed shearling slippers and the perfect basket bag to hit the farmers’ market with.
One thing’s for certain: while the jean jacket may still hang proudly in every millennial’s wardrobe, the next generation has already moved on.
