A jacket is a sleeved piece of clothing worn on the upper body; it usually reaches the hip or waist of the wearer. This garment is often worn over another piece of clothing, like an undershirt. Jackets usually have sleeves that reach the wrist, although today there are jackets that are short-sleeved, and some with sleeves that only reach the elbow.

In some places, the term jacket is interchangeable with the word coat, although in other places, there is a distinguishing factor between the two. A coat is usually associated with a piece of clothing worn on the upper body, typically with long sleeves; most coats are longer than jackets, reaching knee-length. Coats are also worn over other pieces of clothing.

Both jackets and coats open down the front with the use of zippers, buttons, fasteners, or belts. Both garments are usually used in cold weather. Some jackets and coats are made for the function they perform. Thus, they are thick, and probably rather heavy, since they have to provide insulation for the wearer. Some are designed to be stylish and hip, although both functionality and trendiness can be incorporated into one garment.

One of the popular forms of jackets out in the market today is the hooded jacket. A hood is a form of headgear that covers the wearer’s head, neck, and sometimes even the face. Hooded jackets are sometimes referred to as “hoodies” in slang. Dickies hooded jacket retailers have a variety of hoodies that cater to different people with different tastes.

Some jackets may have prices that are quite steep for some people, probably because of the manufacture and materials used; stores and retailers with discount Alternative Apparel clothing may be able to provide hooded jackets at a lower price.         

Some jackets with hoods are used in extremely cold climates; for example, scientists who go to the Arctic or Antarctic regions use thick, hooded parkas. However, hooded jackets are quite popular as being part of a casual outfit. Some brands that provide casual clothing, like Dickies, have hooded jackets that are both functional and stylish. A Dickies hooded jacket is built to be durable, yet also lets its wearer look laid-back and casual.