Vintage Varsity Jackets (Not Just for the Athletic)

As the vintage market booms, everyone is trying to get that one-off piece that nobody else has. Vintage really just has that bit of cool, edginess to it that modern construction does not have. From the single stitching to the sun faded graphics, vintage is what modern day customers are looking for, even if just for inspiration.

From consumers to stylists to designers, everyone is on a mad hunt for the best vintage pieces. There is a growing market for these rare gems so consumers are always on the search for the next “it” piece. Designers today are looking back in achieves and thrift / vintage stores to search for inspiration for their latest collections.

Now I am not going to ramble on and on about the boom in vintage, BUT I do want to persuade all of you to buy a vintage varsity jacket.

Varsity jackets are a sick way to add a bit of a statement to your outfit. They make for a fantastic statement piece and a subtle nod to 1950s America. It really doesn’t matter if you were athletic back in high school and actually got a varsity jacket or not. Copping a vintage one will make you feel like you can throw a touchdown or something (idk I'm not athletic).

Since the vintage market is growing, like I mentioned five times already, vintage and thrift shops are popping up faster than ever and have even more options. You can easily find these jackets in any color, shape, and sport that you want.

I found a beautiful green jacket in a thrift shop in Boston and I absolutely fell in love with it. The sleeves on mine are a cool cream color and my favorite part is actually the collar. The collar on mine is a true fold down collar rather than the classic band collar that is found on most varsity jackets.

The best part about these jackets is how cheap they are. I found this one for about $35. You can find them at thrift shops for really cheap but if you go to a vintage shop, you are going to pay a little bit more. The quality at vintage shops is USUALLY better but not always so make sure you inspect what you buy.

Regardless of price, when styling these jackets, I find it best to keep it simple and have the jacket be the statement piece that people notice. I try not to wear anything else crazy to distract anyone from the varsity jacket. I usually pair mine with a gray hoodie, black straight pants, and some Chucks.

I think a clean straight leg is great for this outfit because the jacket points to the 50s so having an inoffensive pant, not too tight or too baggy, is perfect. Also, you just can’t go wrong with a pair of Chucks.

Varsity jackets have also been massively popular in streetwear right not and I personally noticed a ton of people wearing them at Paris Fashion Week. Here are a few example from the streets of Paris (pictures found on Grailed's Instagram).

One of my favorite YouTubers / Influencers, Magnus Ronning, has been sporting varsity jackets a ton lately. He has been finding them at thrift / vintage stores and has been a massive fan recently. Here are some pictures from his Instagram.

No matter what your style, adding a varsity jacket can be a sick way to add a piece of American heritage into your wardrobe.