Expert Advice

How to Wear a Varsity Jacket Without Looking Like Everyone Else

Sep 3, 2025

A varsity jacket can amplify your street style, whether you're throwing back to high school or representing your team with an Atlanta Falcons varsity jacket. Keep reading to learn how to wear a varsity jacket and genuinely stand out. 

Woman modeling Varsity jacket

Make it Yours

First and foremost, choose a jacket that matches your aesthetic, whether that's with bold color blocking, minimalist neutral colors or corduroy varsity jackets.

 

Then, upgrade your look with embroidery, pins and other varsity-style personalizations to stand out without doing too much. Consider finding cool pins or patches at local shops or online rather than sticking to the options everyone else is using.

 

Just be careful — wearing clashing colors or more than a few pins or patches can cause your fashion piece to stand out a little too much. To personalize your varsity jacket without going overboard, start with small variations until you find your style. For example, if you have a wide pin collection but can't decide on just a few, consider wearing only three at a time and swapping them every time you go out.

Pair With the Right Sneakers

The right kicks will sell your varsity look beyond the jacket itself. Consider high-top sneakers, platform sneakers or retro runners such as Jordan 3 Retro "Pure Money" Men's Shoes for a sporty look. Alternatively, try out loafers, sleek leather kicks or something else a little more formal for a contrasting style. 

Man modeling Varsity Jacket

Layer Like a Pro

As you learn how to wear a varsity men's jacket or women's jacket, you'll also want to learn the art of layering tops. Remember the following letterman jacket layering techniques:

 

  • Wearing hoodies or graphic tees underneath for a classic streetwear style
  • Mixing textures, such as denim, leather, corduroy or plaid, for contrast
  • Layering textures based on whether your jacket is wool or satin
  • Pairing your jacket with joggers, cargo pants, tailored pants, skinny jeans or wide-leg pants, depending on the vibe

Go Bold With Colors (Or Don't)

Blending colors is one of the most challenging parts of learning how to wear a varsity jacket for guys or how to wear a women's jacket. Practice "color blocking" by choosing clashing shades on a color wheel, such as blue on orange, to make your fit naturally stand out. You may even lean into bright colors such as yellow or neon tones if you have contrasting colors to balance them out with. 

 

If you want to lean more into subtlety to make your favorite accessories pop, follow these tips to pull off your monochrome fit:

 

  • Pair your Jordan varsity jacket with white hoodies, shirts and bottoms.
  • If your jacket already has a non-grayscale color, weave that color alone into the rest of your monochrome style. 
  • Choose complementary shoes and accessories.

Show Team Pride Your Way

Whether you're learning how to wear a red varsity jacket for your team or how to wear a varsity jacket that fits your unique style, your fashion sense is all about what you want. Explore team and player-inspired jackets at Hibbett, and start representing your sport in a way that's true to your vibe. 

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