An Ode to Classic Varsity Style as We Head Into Fall
In a pre-pandemic world, we’d be starting to think about returning to school, and the outfits that go along with that. Obviously this year, there’s the urgent question of how schools can reopen safely, or if they should even reopen at all. But sartorially speaking, we can always go back to school. Just last fall, Thom Browne hosted an epic football game in Central Park, with industry folk dressed from head to toe in his line of football-inspired apparel. Think timeless varsity style; letterman jackets, rugby shirts, and logo-emblazoned crests on both crewnecks and hoodies have been a staple among jocks and preps for decades, and the athletic-driven, scholarly style has inspired many runway looks. Take Marc Jacobs’s spring 2016 collection, where models marched down the runway showing their “Bobcats” pride in collegiate-striped, reworked sweatshirts, or Anna Sui’s spring 2017 collection, which came with its own cheerleading squad dressed in full “A.S.”-stamped varsity jackets, classic cheer shell tops, and knife-pleated skirts to boot. Go team!
Meanwhile, Matthew Adams Dolan took a less literal approach by crafting women’s dresses from menswear-inspired rugby shirts for spring 2020. Even more recently, “The Dancing Boy” collection for Hedi Slimane’s Celine spring 2021 menswear gave a nod to the TikTok generation, who may or may not be heading back to campus this fall. Models gave off a cool, thrown-together vibe, layering hoodies under varsity jackets atop ripped denim, with a touch of prep school pleated plaid.
And as we’re relying on casual and athletic attire more than ever, we can’t forget about Princess Diana’s iconic style. She championed the look rather effortlessly, by repping collegiate crew necks with bike shorts and stepping out in an actual football team’s bomber jacket. Her elegant twist on the sporty look proves that varsity-inspired fashion isn’t limited to locker-lined hallways or the football field.
After all, oversized rugby polos, letterman cardigans, and cable-knit cricket sweaters sound cozy to wear this fall. Whether you want to join Off-White’s swim squad, Gucci’s tennis team, or show your Marc Jacobs pride in a patched-up letterman, here are 17 ways to show your spirit, as an ode to classic varsity style.
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