Men's Denim Vest

Whether for working, biking or being out and about in the rodeo, men's denim vests continue to be hugely popular. For years, they have stopped being the province of just bikers and cowboys and are embraced by a wide swathe of the male population who love them for their rugged coolness.

Denim vests are traditionally associated with cowboys and bikers.

These days, denim vests are associated mostly with bikers. Harley-Davidson even makes its own vests and a serious biker is going to opt for that rather than something a bit more low rent. If you ride a Harley, you have to really represent.

Of course, what's mostly worn for biking is leather, which not only looks great but can offer the skin a fair bit of protection in case of an accident. It also keeps you warm in high wind. But in summer, leather can be excruciating. Denim, long beloved for its own ruggedness and wind-breaking ability, is the natural substitute. It should be noted that bikers are aware that denim will not do much to protect the body in the case of an accident, despite its strength and durability. However, one doesn't become a biker if they are overly worried about such things.

Cowboys were the originators of denim vests, hence their ongoing popularity at rodeos and other Western events. Denim's lightness and ruggedness made jeans a natural for cowboy wear. In those days, vests were still part of a man's normal daytime attire. But most cowboys couldn't wear a wool or silk vest when riding the range or working the ranch. So it was only natural that designers made denim vests to go with the jeans, adding the layer of warmth and protection a man might need while maintaining necessary practicality. The denim lasted a long time and was easy to care for – exactly what a hard-working man needed then and now.

As jeans became more popular in the 1960s, with nearly everyone wearing them, it was no wonder that a lot of hippies gravitated towards men's denim vests to add to their look. The vests could be worn with nothing underneath and denim's storied ability to take to decoration made them a natural for the clothing revolution's inventiveness. The vests could be embroidered, colorfully patched or even written on. When clothing was a key aspect to a person's expressiveness, denim was the natural medium.

Men's denim vests can be found in most stores selling jeans and jean jackets, as well as shops geared towards bikers. They can be an easy item to shop for online as you only have to get the right chest and midsection measurement.

As mentioned, the Harley-Davidson store online sells its own vests. The basic style is always the same – a blue denim vest with a snap down collar, snap down chest pockets, button down front and adjustable waist tabs. There will be different embroidery along the front. It's also very common for bikers to add their own personal touches.

On the cowboy side, Wrangler makes a standard vest with a traditional yoke neck and button down front. Levi's, of course, still makes denim vests as well. For a decent selection of cowboy-style gear, try Cowtown Cowboy.

Another good shopping source is always Sierra Trading Post, although their selection will vary. However, a good denim vest can be surprisingly expensive and the discounts you can get at Sierra are worth the effort to check them regularly.

Vests can be gotten easily enough and denim is hard to sew, but for bikers or hippies, one popular way of getting the perfect vest is to cut the arms off a jean jacket that has seen better days. This gives you the stylish fraying look and adds to the rugged appeal. It's also a great way to recycle.

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