Lizz’s Latest: Varsity Jackets Aren’t Just For Jocks

Feature image originally found at Liz The Biz

VIA STYLESCRAPBOOK.COM

Homecoming excitement is in the air this fall. Perhaps working folk are nostalgic for school yard days or, more realistically, enthusiastically looking forward to Glee’s third season. With that in mind, the latest thing is varsity jackets. Do you have to actually be on some sort of varsity team to wear one? No way! Even a former Mathlete can revel in the enjoyment of goofy adorableness of a store bought varsity jacket.

THE BROOKLYN CIRCUS (THEBKCIRCUS.COM)

One of the greatest things about varsity jackets is there are tons and tons at second hand stores; previously who would have wanted someone else’s team jacket? There might even be an old varsity jacket hanging around your parent’s place. The current jacket designs are slimmer and more fitted than a traditional letterman jacket, but I think the old-school ones look just as cool.

VIA LOOKBOOK.NU

Due to Forever 21’s unusual (read: questionable) design and production methods, they are faster than most stores at hopping on trend bandwagons. The same goes for ASOS’s ability to sell trends before we even know they exist (unknown about their business practices). Until other designers and stores catch up, to go beyond those two brands you’re either going to have to shell out serious dollars or, as I mentioned, go digging through thrift stores.

$119 – Urban Outfitter ASOS – $82.33 $22.80 – Forever 21
$36.59 – ASOS $89 – Urban Outfitters $91.48 – ASOS

I can’t put my finger on why I think this is a queer look, but if I saw a post-teenage girl wearing one I would definitely think that maybe she might hopefully sort of be gay. I think it’s one part that it’s literally a man’s piece of clothing and one part “so straight it must be gay” (like pin-up girls). On the lesbian-scale, I’d put it as more lesbian than a scarf with skulls on it but less lesbian than one feathered earring. Somewhere around the lesbian level of Justin Bieber. Oh wait. I just figured it out.

EXACTLY THIS QUEER

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

Join AF+!
Related:

Lizz

Lizz is a consumer, lover and writer of all things pop culture and the Fashion/Style Editor at Autostraddle.com. She is also full time medical student at Brown University in Providence, RI. You can find her on the twitter, the tumblr or even on the instagram.

Lizz has written 261 articles for us.

13 Comments

  1. Is it really bad that I’m saving up to have a custom one made in my team colours? I think varsity jackets are brilliant and even though you don’t have to be an athlete to wear one, it certainly doesn’t hurt.

  2. My old varsity jacket is still hanging somewhere in my parent’s house. Dunno if it would still fit though.

  3. at my school mathletes actually did get varsity jackets! i “lettered” in newspaper writing and theater, but you could get one for music, math, etc. this was in texas so everything is a competition, by nature. i should put my jacket on ebay

  4. Now I feel really cool and fashion forward for deciding I wanted one last weekend. Self high five?

    I feel like it’s a nice fall jacket that I could put over my button-up/bowtie situation instead of a.) going jacketless and being cold or b.) bowing to practicality and wearing my ratty old hoodie

  6. I knew I should have sold my old varsity jacket on-line. Blue and gold with a giant softball championship decal on the chest. SCREAMS lesbian.

  7. This post makes me want to rush out and buy a varsity jacket. Even though I was never an athlete and previously thought that these jackets made whoever was wearing it look kind of douchey. Well well. I stand corrected.

  8. Yay so I already have one from Topman with a G on it because I’m a gangstaaa. haha just kidding but I want a harry potter one.

  9. I love letterman jackets so much. When I see a girl wearing one I get distracted and just watch her. So there you go.

  10. I lettered in Marching Band. We were nationally ranked and had more awards than the football team which hadn’t had a winning season in 15 years. We also looked like Star Trek crew members.

    I challenge anybody to make that sound nerdier.

  11. And if you weren’t sure a lady in a varsity jacket was actually queer, you could try to pick her up by asking if she played for your team.

  12. i wonder if that will catch on up here in canada … if i saw one i don’t know if i’d think queer, but i’d certainly think “american.” :p i guess we don’t have the same connotations around them.

    also re: one feathered earring. i WISH that was a queer thing. everybody and their dog is rockin that style here in vancouver.

  13. I’m still looking for the perfect one myself. I’m having trouble finding an extra small one with a vintage look :(

Comments are closed.