The Varsity Jacket: No Longer for High School

Letterman/Varsity Jackets for 2012

Varsity jackets are making a huge reappearance this season. The Varsity Jacket is no longer just the style staple for the high school football team or Zac Effron wannabes as it has now gone mainstream. It's being seen everywhere from high street to runway and it's not going anywhere soon.

This look is cool and quirky for when you want a laid back casual look as it is comfortable yet right on trend. These are sometimes called system, or 3-in-1 jackets. The letterman jacket, known also as the varsity jacket, started with an athletic letter which originated through the start of organized sports and the adoption of an official uniform.

There was a need for identification which was solved by adding a "letter" to the uniform. In 1865, the Harvard baseball team added old English 'H' embroidered on their grey flannel shirts. It's interesting to note that for 25 years following introduction of the letter, it was the practice of the team captain to allow certain players who played in the most important games to keep the 'H' on their jersey as a reward. If a player did not play in an important game, they had to return the jersey at the end of the season. In the 1930's, the letter started to appear on leather sleeved, wool-bodied jackets and thus was born the modern day tradition of varsity letterman jackets.

However, there are different types of varsity jackets that you can go for, there is the typical high school lookalike with sewn on numbers for the original look or for a more versatile look, that you can translate into your work wardrobe, some designers, such as Yves Saint Laurent, have used the same shape but other materials such as leather or one colour for their own take on the trend. Even celebs such as Ciara and Lady Gaga are rocking the varsity look, so it's predicted to skyrocket this season.

Varsity jackets for girls. Leather jackets have gained iconic status. They are generally grey, black or brown in colour. Today, the leather jacket is not only outerwear which provides comfort during winters, it has been connected to various subcultures and even complete lifestyles. One of its best uses is the intimidating appearance it offers to the wearer.