When you shop for varsity jackets, the options can feel like a maze. Wool, leather, satin, fleece, and cotton can all look alike on a screen. This simple guide explains the main types of varsity jackets by material, style, and fit so your group orders jackets that feel right and look sharp for years.
Clothoo has been making custom jackets since 2013 for schools, fashion buyers, corporate teams, and senior classes across the United States. Because all styles come in unisex XS–6XL, you can dress mixed groups with one size chart. Along with custom varsity and letterman jackets, Clothoo also builds bomber, coach, and fleece styles for full team outfits.
Types of Varsity Jackets (Quick List)
When people in the United States talk about the different types of varsity jackets, they usually mean how the jacket changes by material, style, and fit. So, before you dive into details, here is a simple list you can scan and share with your group:
- Wool varsity jackets – warm, structured wool body for cold games.
- Wool body with leather sleeves – the classic school letterman mix.
- All-leather varsity jackets – heavier, bold look for fashion and nightlife.
- Faux leather / vegan varsity jackets – leather look without animal hides.
- Fleece varsity jackets – soft, hoodie-like feel for everyday wear.
- Cotton twill varsity jackets – light, clean lines for mild weather.
- Satin / nylon varsity jackets – shiny, lightweight shells for travel and stage.
- Denim varsity jackets – jean-style bodies with rib knit trims and patches.
- Hooded varsity jackets – built-in hood for street style and extra wind cover.
- Cropped varsity jackets – shorter length that sits at the waist.
- Oversized varsity jackets – relaxed, boxy shapes for streetwear looks.
- Bomber-style varsity jackets – bomber jacket silhouette with varsity stripes.
The rest of this guide walks through these varsity jacket types in more detail so students, fashion lovers, and company teams can all land on the right build.
Types of Varsity Jackets by Materials
Use this simple visual grid to compare the main material types of varsity jackets. Click any photo to open the matching Clothoo collection and explore colors, sizes, and full details.
 Wool and Leather Varsity Jackets Classic wool body with genuine leather sleeves for school and college teams that want durable game jackets and long-term alumni wear. View Wool & Leather Jackets |
 All-Wool Varsity Jackets Thick melton wool body and sleeves for cold home games, marching bands, and winter senior jackets. View All-Wool Collection |
 Faux Leather Varsity Jackets Animal-free faux leather sleeves with bold two-tone colors for clubs, brands, and school spirit wear that avoids real hides. View Faux Leather Collection |
 All-Leather Varsity Jackets Full leather varsity jackets with a heavier feel for fashion-focused teams, alumni, and corporate gifts. View All-Leather Jackets |
 Hooded Varsity Jackets Wool varsity jackets with fixed hoods that give extra wind cover and a streetwear look for daily campus outfits. View Hooded Jackets |
 Satin Varsity Jackets Lightweight satin varsity jackets with a soft shine for dance teams, pep bands, and travel days when wool is too heavy. View Satin Collection |
 Fleece Varsity Jackets Soft cotton fleece varsity jackets that feel like a hoodie but still show school colors, names, and numbers. View Fleece Collection |
 Cotton Twill Varsity Jackets Breathable cotton twill varsity jackets for warm states and spring games when you want a lighter varsity layer. View Cotton Twill Collection |
For a deeper look at fabrics, you can also read the blog guide
Best Material for a Varsity Jacket: Wool vs Fleece
This extra guide helps you compare warmth and softness side by side.
Quick Way to Match Materials to Your Needs
To keep things simple, use this list to narrow down the best material type for your group:
- Pick wool body styles when you need a thicker layer for cold home games.
- Pick wool with leather sleeves when you want long-lasting, classic school jackets.
- Pick all-leather options for fashion-focused groups and strong street outfits.
- Pick faux leather when you want an animal-free or easy-care jacket with a leather look.
- Pick satin styles when you need light, packable jackets for travel and mild weather.
- Pick fleece body designs for softer, hoodie-like jackets students can wear daily.
- Pick cotton twill when you want clean lines and a lighter feel in mild climates.
If you want help matching fabrics to real U.S. seasons, you can also read the blog guide Best Varsity Jacket Styles for Fall, Winter, and Spring. That way, you match each type of varsity jacket to the right month, not just the right look.
Style Types of Varsity Jackets
Once you know your fabric, you can pick the look. These are the most common style types of varsity jackets you see in the United States:
- Classic varsity jackets – regular length, contrast sleeves, simple letters and numbers.
- Retro or throwback jackets – bold stripes, old-school color blocks, and vintage script.
- Hooded varsity jackets – mix of hoodie comfort and varsity stripes for street style.
- Cropped varsity jackets – shorter body that sits at the waist, popular with fashion lovers.
- Oversized varsity jackets – roomy, boxy fits that work well for social media content.
- Bomber-style varsity jackets – bomber jacket shape with varsity rib knit and patches.
- Denim varsity jackets – denim bodies with knit trims and chenille patches for a casual twist.
Classic and retro types work best for school teams and senior classes. Meanwhile, cropped, oversized, satin, and denim builds are perfect for fashion lovers and social media outfits. For outfit ideas built around these types, you can check Varsity Jacket Outfit Ideas for School, Work, and Weekends.
Fits: Relaxed, Slim, and Oversized
Material is only half the story. How a jacket fits on the body changes comfort, look, and how often students actually wear it.
Clothoo builds designs in unisex XS–6XL, with room to layer over a tee, polo, or hoodie. This makes it easier to size both male and female students on one chart.
How a varsity jacket should sit on the body
A good jacket should sit on the shoulders without pulling or dropping too far. Sleeves should end at the wrist bone, not halfway down the hand. The bottom rib knit should land near the hip, not across the stomach or low on the thighs.
If you plan to layer hoodies or thick sweatshirts under the jacket, give a little extra room in the chest and shoulders. For T-shirt layering only, you can choose a slimmer cut.
Picking the right fit for your group
Here is a simple way to think about fit styles for Clothoo jackets:
- Classic or relaxed fits feel slightly roomy and work well for school teams.
- Slim fits sit closer to the body and suit style-conscious seniors and fashion buyers.
- Oversized fits look boxier and work best for streetwear looks and social media content.
- Mixed groups often blend relaxed fits for most students and a few slim fits for those who want a sharper line.
For extra help with sizing, you can follow two step-by-step guides on the blog: How to Choose the Right Size for a Custom Varsity Jacket and How to Measure for a Varsity Jacket Size. Together, these guides make it easier to order for a whole class or team.
When you collect sizes, ask students how they like their hoodies to fit. If they say “baggy,” they might want a more relaxed or oversized jacket. If they like a trim look, a classic or slim fit will feel better day to day.
How to Match Types of Jackets to Your Group
Once you understand materials, fits, and style types, you can line them up with real situations instead of guessing. This helps you spend the budget once and get it right.
Ideas for schools and teams
High schools and colleges that want a long-term, classic look usually lean toward wool body and leather sleeve styles in school colors. These carry chenille letters, numbers, and name patches well and look great in senior photos and at alumni events.
- Use wool + leather or plain wool for core sports like football, basketball, and marching band.
- Use fleece for cross-country teams, cheer squads, and student sections that want soft everyday layers.
- Use satin or cotton twill for indoor sports and warm states where heavy coats stay in lockers.
- Pick a retro or USA-inspired type of varsity jacket when you want strong school spirit and photo moments.
For more ideas on school spirit, you can read Varsity Jackets for School Spirit Wear and Alumni, which shows how different groups use patches and colors.
Ideas for clubs, brands, and company groups
Clubs, fashion brands, and company teams often use jackets for events, launches, and photoshoots. All-leather styles suit nightlife events, brand launches, and more dressed-up team outfits. Satin jackets fit music groups, dance teams, and college clubs that travel and perform indoors.
- Pick classic wool + leather or USA-style jackets for national events and fan clubs.
- Pick all-leather or satin for fashion shoots, VIP events, and nightlife.
- Pick cotton twill or fleece for staff jackets in cafés, shops, and offices.
- Pick oversized or bomber-style varsity jackets when your brand leans into streetwear.
In all cases, it helps to pick one or two base fits (for example, relaxed for most people and slim for a few) and stick to those across the group. For planning a full order, the blog guide How to Choose the Right Custom Varsity Jacket for Your Group and the article Bulk Custom Varsity Jackets for High Schools and Colleges walk through timelines and budgets.
If you need a mix of types for a smaller crew, you can send your group to the varsity collection and tell them which two or three styles to focus on. That keeps everyone on the same page while still giving some room for personal taste. For small groups and friend circles, you can also use Custom Varsity Jackets for Small Teams with No Minimum as a planning guide.
Fashion fans and content creators can look at How Varsity Jackets Became Everyday Streetwear and Varsity Jacket Trends 2025 to see how different types of varsity jackets show up in real outfits.
FAQ: Types, Materials, and Fits
Q: What are the main types of varsity jackets?
Most people sort varsity jackets by material and style. Common types include wool body jackets, wool with leather sleeves, all-leather, faux leather, fleece, cotton twill, satin, denim, hooded, cropped, oversized, and bomber-style varsity jackets. All of them share rib knit trims and room for patches.
Q: Which material is best for cold U.S. states?
For colder states and night games, wool body jackets work best. You can also add leather sleeves for extra structure and a classic letter style. This mix gives a solid outer layer over hoodies and mid-layers.
Q: Which material works for mild or warm states?
For mild climates, cotton twill, satin, and fleece styles feel better. They give the same varsity look without feeling too heavy in spring, indoors, or during travel.
Q: Are fleece varsity styles good enough for teams, or are they only casual?
Fleece body jackets can still look very “team ready” when you add letters, numbers, and logos. They just feel softer and lighter, so students often wear them more during the week. Many schools use fleece varsity jackets for spirit wear while keeping wool and leather for main sports.
Q: How do I choose between relaxed, slim, and oversized fits?
Think about how your group dresses now. If most students like roomy hoodies, go with relaxed or slightly oversized fits. If they prefer sharper lines, slim or classic fits will look better. You can mix fits as long as the colors and patches match.
Q: Are varsity jackets still in style in the United States?
Yes. Varsity jackets are a core part of U.S. streetwear and campus style. Students, fashion lovers, and even office teams wear different types of varsity jackets with jeans, joggers, and simple shirts. For trend ideas, you can scan Varsity Jacket Trends 2025 and USA Varsity Jackets Styles: How Americans Wear Classic Letterman Today.
Q: Can one collection cover students, staff, and fans?
Yes. Because Clothoo offers unisex XS–6XL and several materials, one set of colors can cover athletes, band members, coaches, staff, fashion buyers, and family supporters. You only need to match materials and fits to each group’s weather and daily use, then choose the type of varsity jacket that fits each role.
