How to Style a Varsity Jacket in 2024 to Look More Taylor Swift and ‘Riverdale’

If bright collegiate colors feel a bit too bold for your taste, you can always opt for a black, navy or gray varsity jacket instead. The dark neutrals have an inherently elevated vibe and are easier to mix in with your existing wardrobe. They also feel less attention grabbing even when wore with classic basics, like jeans and a white button-up shirt.

On the flip side, if you do want your varsity jacket to be the star of the show, there’s no better way to style it than with an all-black base. You can also choose to keep your accessories on the neutral side, but we think repeating some of the accent colors from the patches on your jacket (like the red bag and red patches pictured above) is an incredibly fun way to emphasize that sporty detailing.

You can go the full sporty route and pair your varsity jacket with a tennis dress, but it can also look chic layered over a slightly dressier minidress (in cotton, linen or even silk). It can look especially cool if your dress and jacket are roughly the same length. As for accessories, you can either play into your chic frock with strappy sandals and a petite handbag, or you can go for easy kicks and a crossbody.

If you find yourself gravitating toward varsity jackets with minimal details, maybe just one or two patches or a single name embroidered on the chest, try pairing it with other minimalist wardrobe staples. A classic button-up shirt, pointy-toe flats, wide-leg jeans and a sleek shoulder bag create a great base for showing off your trendy jacket without actually feeling overly trendy.

If you’re having some trouble pairing such a sporty trend with items that are a bit more posh, we suggest leaning hard into color. Find a pair of heels that are an exact match (or at least very close) to the main color of your jacket, then keep all other elements of your outfit fairly neutral. The end result is an effortlessly cool mix-and-match look you can wear just about anywhere.

If you like leaning into the origins of the varsity jacket with other athletic staples, you can always layer it over your athleisure favorites, like leggings, a tennis skirt or bike shorts. But if you want something a bit more fashion forward that’s every bit as comfortable, you can instead choose athleisure-inspired pieces with elevated twists. We’re talking super-bright sneakers, satin cargo pants, a cashmere polo shirt, etc. And don’t forget to add a pair of sporty sunnies to the mix as the ideal finishing touch.

The best thing about varsity jackets is you can easily pull them from your Dad’s closet or local consignment shop. But why stop there? Gather more inspo from Pop’s wardrobe and opt for oversize denim, thick white socks and old-school sneaks to tie the look together. Now go forth and remind loved ones to get their oil changed.