Level Up Your Outerwear with these Varsity Gems
Our Highsnobiety Fall Style Guide is here to help you bring the heat as the weather cools down. From curated picks to trend forecasting, we have everything you need to season-proof your rotation.
The varsity jacket — otherwise know as the letterman — is a staple in any man's closet. Similar in shape to the bomber, the preppy piece returns season after season from streetwear brands and high fashion alike.
As the name suggests, varsity jackets can trace their origin back to American college varsity teams. The first-ever iteration came from Harvard University in 1865, worn by its esteemed baseball team. Determined to distinguish their star player from the rest of the team, a fabric letter was embroidered onto the jacket (hence the name Letterman).
But you don't have to be an Ivy League jock to rock a varsity jacket. With the years, the piece became less academic and filtered into casualwear, with all kinds of brands embracing the style and releasing their own versions of the varsity jacket. Along with coach jackets, varsity’s are perfect for fall and brands like Celine Homme and Off-White™ often feature it in its collections.
Luxury fashion also embraces this classic piece, releasing elevated versions of the jacket. Using higher quality materials and slick designs, these pricier varsity jackets make for the perfect transitional outerwear this fall. As such, we've rounded up the very best varsity jackets from affordable pieces to luxury offerings.
Shop some of the best luxury varsity jackets below.
Thom Browne Colour-Block Pressed Wool Varsity Jacket
Gold buttons, a three toned color expression and subtle striping. If you're trying to rock varsity without the extravagance, this one's for you.
Moncler Genius X Billionaire Boys Club Duran wool-blend varsity jacket
Unmistakably Moncler, this hooded varsity jacket mixes it up by creating a piece evocative of space travel. An exaggerated collar and astronaut emblem has the out-of-this-world factor to take your outfit to another stratosphere.
Balmain Logo-Appliquéd Virgin Wool and Leather Varsity Jacket
We're loving the retro typography of this Balmain varsity jacket. This is vintage at its best - a black colorway will see you through all seasons.
Celine Homme Varsity Jacket
This is peak High School Musical, with a red-and-white colorway to really belt your heart out on the field. Celine Homme gives us a letterman jacket - quite literally. It's right there in the A - B - and you guessed it - C.
FRAME Striped Leather-Trimmed Wool-Blend Varsity Jacket
Simple and elegant, a varsity jacket fit for a night at the opera, or for a drink at the pier. Your choice.
SAINT MXXXXXX Appliquéd Wool-Blend Varsity Jacket
This jacket bears a 'World Harmony' appliqué, and we really couldn't think of a more appropriate slogan for these times. Keep the apocalypse at bay with this bright green hue.
Emporio Armani Shell Varsity Jacket
With a beautiful textile expression, and streamlined white striping, this piece takes earthy and makes it all grown up. Armani has perfected a mature varsity jacket.
Valentino Garavani Leather and Wool Varsity Jacket
This mix between leather and wool plays with textiles to great effect. The studding is doing the jacket a huge favor, playing up the edge factor for an otherwise demure-looking cover-up.
Kenzo Paris Sailor Wool Blend Varsity Jacket
Coming home on leave? This maritime number will have you sorted for whatever land-borne adventure you choose to go on. The cute mini-cape at the back makes this a playful take on varsity.
Off-White Crystals Leather Varsity Jacket
At a whopping $5,325 price point, we had to include this Off-White Crystals jacket. Maybe it's a freemasons thing. We're not sure, but those three interlocking keys look sus.
Homme + Femme La 10 Year Denim & Twill Varsity Jacket
Homme + Femme, masculine and feminine, the yin and the yang. What exists in the fabric of life, exists in the fabric of this piece.
Highsnobiety Not in Paris 5 Varsity Jacket
Highsnobiety's own 'Not in Paris' collection has outdone itself with cheeky emblems of stereotypically Parisian staples including the Eiffel Tower, a baguette, and even a roadside cafe table. We can almost taste the hot coffee and croissant now.
Y-3 Classic Varsity Jacket
This looks like something Ye would wear on his next outing with basically naked wife, whats-her-name.
Wales Bonner Ascend Varsity Jacket
Wales Bonner does design to perfection and the intricacy of the embroidery here is unparalleled. Luxurious, otherworldly flora and fauna abound - and we are here for it.
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