I recently added a new denim jacket to my closet, and have been considering what to do with one of my old ones: this Levis deconstructed trucker jacket in pics 1-3. I love the look of it, but the seam on the arm at the elbow makes it not very comfortable. For years I ignored that when I’d wear it, but I’m now not as inclined to ignore discomfort.

There is the possibility of cutting off the arms to make it into a vest. I like that idea. I do have a very old (maybe 12 years +) Levi’s denim vest that is more cropped and has finished seams. When I was thinner I could button it all the way up and wear it almost more like a top. That ain’t happening now. It’s a bit short for that, even if I lost a size or two.

The issue with cutting off the sleeves on the jacket is that those shoulder seams hit right at the end of my shoulders, sort of. My shoulders are uneven, and there are certain sleeveless widths that emphasize that discrepancy. Pics probably don’t show this, but I do notice it IRL. I’ve given up more than one sleeveless top because I realized the shoulder width meant that one of my shoulders was sticking out and the other wasn’t. (Yay scoliosis and torsion) I wonder if this jacket-cut-to-vest might do that. I suppose that if it were an issue, I could take it to the tailor, have a little extra cut off, and then a clean edge sewn onto it? If you look at photo #4 of my old vest, the one with the collar, you’ll see a shoulder width cut that seems to work a little better for me.

Should I cut the sleeves off? Or is there some other way to mitigate the irritating elbow seam?? I welcome all suggestions! In looking at these pics, I’m not even all that crazy about the old collared vest on me. I’d be willing to let it go, I think. I don’t think I’ve worn it in three years.

Please ignore lack of styling, makeup and hair. I’m simply throwing these on over my jeans and a Heattech tee.