JEAN JACKETS BRENDA WALSH WOULD WEAR.

There were many moments in the 10 year run of Beverly Hills 90210 that the entire cast had on denim, and some, top to bottom - most notably exception was Brian Austin Green often in some type of Hammer-pant situation.

I can remember an episode where Brenda was flying (she hated it) and she had on a denim jacket that I became fixated on, and could not rest until my mom took me to the mall to find because THERE WAS NO GOOGLING. There was a field trip coming up, and I would pull out all the stops for field trips - new outfit, duh, but I would also braid my wet hair the night before in 6 or 7 small braids, to wake up to a crimped-but-extra look that could withstand the long day at the zoo, or Kroger (we took a trip to the new Kroger grocery store when it opened in Winston-Salem).

I still daydream that the right denim might make all the difference. 20 years later, I took a field trip to the Long Leaf Hotel in Raleigh, and wore my just-acquired jean jacket. With puffy sleeves in a washed-out black, I like how this Retrofete jacket is pretty and punky. I'll wear it this spring with dark denim, or with a slip dress layered underneath. Check out a few finds that don't need a permission slip to get away with looking extra-fly this season.