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 elitist and filtered into casualwear, with all kinds of brands embracing the style and releasing their own versions of the varsity jacket. Right after bomber jackets, the piece is now a staple in men's streetwear, with brands like Stüssy, Supreme, BAPE, and more, regularly including them in their 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 of those at the higher end of the varsity offering.
Shop some of the best luxury varsity jackets below.
Charles Jeffrey Loverboy Logo Patch Varsity Jacket
Logo Patch Varsity Jacket
Charles Jeffrey Loverboy
The patchwork and colorway on this garment calls back to the original school varsity jackets from the 1950s. The use of comfy cotton embroidery and trippy font adds a nice modern refresh. Don't show this jacket to the certified lover boy himself, Drake.
Jacob & Co. x Highsnobiety Logo Varsity Jacket
Logo Varsity Jacket
Jacob & Co. x Highsnobiety
Our Jacob & Co. x Highsnobiety is filled with gems, including this varsity jacket. Featuring the iconic Jacob The Jeweler logo, the staple pulls from the brand's iconic Five Time Zone Watch — a timepiece dawned by some of hip hop's power weights. Whether you are a hip-hop head or a fan of the jeweler, this luxuriously made jacket is definitely worth a look if you are on the hunt for seasonless outerwear.
visvim Varsity Leather Jacket
Varsity Leather Jacket
visvim
All visvim are investment pieces that will carry you from season to season. Clothing like today's varsity jacket are made with a strenuous level of attention to detail, sustainable dying methods, and handmade craftsmanship. The jacket mixes paneled wool, linen-blend canvas, and leather in the perfect olive green.
Off-White™Wool-Blend and Leather Varsity Jacket
Wool-Blend and Leather Varsity Jacket
Off-White™
Off-White™ varsity jackets have quickly become a staple in the streetwear ethos. It's probably because collegiate iconography and designs are a long-running theme in the late Virgil's work. Jackets like these are modern grails.
Gucci Check Wool Varsity Jacket
Check Wool Varsity Jacket
Gucci
Made from premium wool, varsity jackets have periodically appeared in Gucci collections, always to a good amount of hype. Who wouldn't want to have a double GG varsity jacket in their rotation?
NEIGHBORHOOD B.B. Varsity Jacket
B.B. Varsity Jacket
NEIGHBORHOOD.
Though Spring is right around the corner, some of us commit to the full black uniform all year long. NEIGHBORHOOD's is a good place to start if you want a classic look that still feels fresh.
Burberry Epping Embroidered Cotton Varsity Jacket
Epping Embroidered Cotton Varsity Jacket
Burberry
This Burberry varsity jacket combines a workwear feeling with a classic varsity jacket build. A heavy drill canvas and collar feel close to the construction of a chore jacket while band detailing to the hem and shoulders offers a preppy finish.
Celine Embroidered Varsity Jacket
Embroidered Varsity Jacket
Celine
If we're talking true luxury, it doesn't get much better than the shiny satin work of Celine. Complete with traditional lettering to the reverse, this one's a true classic.
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