The jacket’s fit decides which of these outfits works, and the shoulder seam is where that shows first: the sleeves are a contrasting material, so a seam that sits too far in or hangs past the bone is obvious.
The looks below run from a plain tee, jeans and a pair of sneakers to a dressier build with a collared shirt and tie, and from cargo shorts to dark trousers.
Choose the fit for the look you want first, then build the rest of the outfit around it, as the Fit Considerations section lays out.
1. Varsity Jacket with Tee and Jeans
Under a varsity jacket, a solid white or heather gray T-shirt with no graphic keeps the jacket as the only loud piece. Keep the tee white, black or gray so the letters and the color blocking stay the focus.
Gray jeans with white sneakers keep the whole outfit in one quiet range, which is why the gray and white jacket reads clean here. I would pick this over any busier combination for a normal day.
2. Formal Look with Varsity Jacket
Layering a varsity jacket over a collared shirt, tie and knit piece turns a sporty jacket into something that can pass at a semi-formal event. A cardigan or knit vest sits between shirt and jacket without adding much bulk.
Stay with one color family, like the green here, so the layers look planned. A navy cap works for a casual event, but I would drop it for anything with a dress code.
Since its time on the football field, the varsity jacket has undergone a stylish transformation making it a fall wardrobe must-have for every type of guy out there. Modern versions are fitted and unaffiliated with specific teams, so you can pick your own colors.
— GQ
3. Varsity Jacket Matching Shoes
Shoes can echo the jacket so the outfit looks planned. With a black-and-white letterman jacket, white sneakers carry the white panels down to the ground, and the black swoosh picks up the black.
Pick one or two colors from the jacket and repeat them in the shoes.
Light wash jeans keep the middle of the outfit quiet, so the jacket and shoes are the only pieces that need to match. Matching exactly is less important than repeating the main color.
4. Varsity Jacket with Cargo Shorts
Shorts under a varsity jacket suit warm days when you still want the layer. Dark cargo shorts let a red and cream jacket stay the brightest piece, and the pockets add a utility feel against its sporty look.
Swap the sneakers for loafers and white socks, and cargo shorts under a varsity jacket start to look planned instead of casual. I like that swap because it pulls a casual outfit toward put-together without much effort.
5. Varsity Jacket with White Wide-Leg Pants
Loose white wide-leg pants give a bold varsity jacket plenty of clean space around it. The blue-and-gray graphic jacket stays the focus, and the white keeps the outfit light.
Black loafers anchor all that white and sharpen the line of the pants.
A red cap repeats an accent from the jacket, so keep it to one pop of color. White shows dirt, so I would save this for cleaner days.
6. Varsity Jacket with Plaid Waist Tie
Tying a plaid shirt around the waist adds a layer without wearing it, and it breaks up the line between jacket and dark pants. A red plaid shows up well against a green varsity jacket because the 2 colors contrast.
Knot it at the front or side, snug enough that it stays put. It is an easy move for a day when the weather might swing, and the shirt is ready to wear if it cools down.
7. Varsity Jacket with Hoodie
A cream hoodie under a blue and white varsity jacket keeps the layers in one tone, so the jacket’s color blocking still reads first. Cream corduroy trousers and white sneakers carry that soft palette to the ground.
Choose a hoodie in a shade close to the jacket’s lightest color, and tuck the hood inside the collar so it doesn’t bunch up over it.
Sunglasses finish it for a sunny day. I would skip a graphic hoodie here, since the jacket already has the letters.
8. Varsity Jacket with Cargo Pants
Black cargo pants and a black and white varsity jacket share a dark base, and an oversized white tee breaks it up in the middle.
White sneakers repeat that white at the bottom, so the outfit has a clear top-to-bottom rhythm.
Keep the tee plain so the jacket’s lettering stays the detail people read.
Let the pants sit loose, not tight, to match the oversized shirt. I like this over a denim pairing when I want something darker and more streetwear.
9. Varsity Jacket with Khaki Shorts
Khaki or olive shorts under an orange varsity jacket calm down a loud color without hiding it. A white tee and white socks keep the middle light, and black leather loafers give the outfit a sharper finish than sneakers would.
The loafers are the move I would copy first.
Keep the shorts a muted earth tone so the orange stays the only bright piece. Shorts this relaxed pair best with a roomy jacket, not a cropped one.
10. Varsity Jacket with Dark Trousers
Dark trousers under a black varsity jacket give a streetwear piece a cleaner, more grown-up line. A light gray tee breaks up the black, so the outfit has some contrast without adding a color.
Sunglasses suit this look, and I would keep the rest simple: no patterned shirt, no loud shoes.
It is my pick when I want the jacket to look sharp rather than sporty. Choose trousers that fit close to the ankle, not baggy.
Fit Considerations
Shoulder seams decide whether a varsity jacket works.
The sleeves are a contrasting material, so a seam that sits too far in or hangs past the bone shows up at once, the way it wouldn’t on a single-fabric jacket. Try it on and check this before anything else.
Sleeve length comes next. Check the sleeve length first: the ribbed cuff should rest at your wrist, with the sleeve stopping a little above the wrist bone instead of swallowing your hand.
Sleeves that run long or short break up the color blocking, and a good body fit won’t rescue that.
Pick the fit by the look you want.
A jacket cut true to size reads collegiate and works with smart-casual outfits; size up and the same jacket turns streetwear. I would choose on purpose instead of buying whatever size happens to be on the rack.
Black and white is the safest color base, and it goes with nearly everything in my closet. Navy is a little more refined, and burgundy or forest green adds personality without getting loud.
Maintaining Your Varsity Jacket
Brush the jacket with a soft-bristled brush after you wear it, since dust and dirt settle into wool faster than you’d expect.
A padded hanger holds the shoulders in shape, so skip the thin wire kind. Wire hangers leave dents in the shoulders, and those dents show most on a jacket this structured.
A closet beats a hook by a sunny window.
A heavy stain is a job for a professional cleaner, not a home scrub. I would not wash a varsity jacket at home, because wool and leather are both easy to damage in a machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you wear a hoodie under a varsity jacket?
Yes, and it suits relaxed streetwear best. Pick a hoodie in a shade close to the jacket’s lightest color, and tuck the hood inside the collar so it doesn’t bunch up.
What can I wear in a casual outfit with a bomber jacket?
A varsity jacket is a close cousin, and the same casual basics work. Try a white or heather gray tee under it with light wash or gray jeans and white sneakers, so the jacket stays the focus.
For a darker, streetwear feel, black cargo pants with an oversized white tee and white sneakers also work.
How do you style a baseball outfit?
Start with a varsity jacket, since its sporty color blocking carries the look.
Keep the tee plain white, black or gray, then add jeans or cargo pants in a quiet tone. Pick up one or two jacket colors in your shoes, and the whole look seems deliberate.
What fabric is a varsity jacket?
A classic varsity jacket has a wool body with contrasting sleeves, often leather. Because the sleeves are a different material, the shoulder seams and sleeve length show fit problems right away.
Are varsity jackets still in style?
Yes. They work across casual, streetwear and even semi-formal looks, depending on the fit.
