If you hear friends talk about varsity jackets and letterman jackets, it can sound like two different things when you shop online. In real life, these two names sit very close together, and most people use them for the same school or team jacket style. This guide breaks it down in clear steps so you can pick the right path on Clothoo and lead your group to the jacket that actually fits your goal.
Why People Mix Up Varsity and Letterman Jackets
The shared school and team story
In the United States, both names grew from the same place: school pride and team success. A student earns a big fabric letter from a school. That letter goes on a jacket. Over time, people started to use “letterman” for the jacket that holds the letter and “varsity” for the same type of team jacket.
Today, many buyers see both words on the same product. Stores and students often switch between the two names in one sentence. That is why you might feel a bit lost when you try to decide what to search for or what to put on an order form.
How language changed over time
Language also changed with pop culture and street style. What started as a jacket just for athletes is now a jacket for:
- Seniors who want a memory of their last year
- Marching band and choir groups
- Academic teams and e-sports groups
- Clubs, college groups, and even staff teams
Because the style spread so wide, the words blurred. Many shoppers now say “school jacket” or “team jacket” and mean the same thing. What matters is not the name, but the materials, the letter, and the custom art you put on it.
What Is a Classic Varsity Jacket?
Body, sleeves, and trim details
When people talk about a “classic varsity style,” they usually mean a few clear design points:
- Wool or wool-style body in a solid school color
- Leather, faux leather, or matching fabric sleeves
- Rib-knit collar, cuffs, and hem with stripe lines
- Snap front with contrast buttons
- Front pockets, often with trim or piping
This design has a strong, bold shape and stands out from a simple bomber or hoodie. On Clothoo, you can see this look when you browse ready-made varsity styles for your school or team that keep this body-and-sleeve story front and center while still letting you adjust colors and details on the main varsity collection.
Where varsity styles show up in U.S. life
This jacket shape now lives in more places than the sideline. You will see it on high school seniors in portraits, at pep rallies, and around campus. College students use it as a light fall jacket. Some brands even use the same shape for staff uniforms at events.
Clothoo designs these styles with U.S. wearers in mind, with unisex sizes from XS to 6XL so teams with mixed body types can share one order. The same base shape works whether your group is a football team, a robotics crew, or a college club that wants a strong, clean group look.
What Makes a Jacket a “Letterman” Jacket?
The chenille letter and award patches
The key part that turns a general school jacket into a true “letter” jacket is the award itself. This is usually a chenille letter in the school’s main color with a border color around it. The letter goes on the left chest.
From there, more award patches often join the party:
- Sport or activity icons on the sleeves
- Year patches near the pocket or on the back
- Name and number on chest or sleeve
- State or region award patches for big wins
In short, the jacket shape may look like any other team jacket, but the letter and award layout tell the story of the student. This is why many schools still call them “letter” jackets first, even if the style looks exactly like what others call “varsity.”
How schools use letters to show success
Schools use letters as a simple way to mark work and success over time. A student usually has to meet a clear rule: number of games played, level of grades, or hours spent in an activity. When that rule is met, they receive the letter, and the jacket becomes a walking record.
Clothoo supports this by letting you add chest letters, name patches, sleeve patches, and numbers when you design your own jacket with full color, patch, and embroidery control in the varsity jacket builder. The base jacket shows team identity. The letter and patches show the story of each person.
Style, Fit, and Use Cases: Which Jacket Fits Your Group?
Students, athletes, and spirit wear
If your main focus is a strong school look that students can wear for years, the classic team style is usually the right pick. Think simple color block, clear stripes, and a design that looks good over jeans, sweats, or uniform pants. This style works well for:
- Varsity sports teams and captains
- Senior classes and student councils
- Cheer, dance, and pep groups
- Campus stores or spirit shops
You can start with standard designs on the (view complete range of varsity jackets)and still add names, numbers, or simple symbols to tie the jackets to each player or leader.
Clubs, bands, and non-sport groups
For bands, academic clubs, and other groups, the jacket is less about the sport and more about team feeling and shared time. These groups may want softer color mixes, lighter fabric options, or unique layouts on the back.
This is a great place to shift into deeper custom work. With Clothoo, you can build a fully custom look for your groupon the design-your-own jacket builder. You pick materials, colors, and patch zones so the jacket matches the group’s story even if they never set foot on a playing field.
Clothoo has been making custom jackets since 2013 and has served schools, teams, brands, and buyers across the U.S., so the patterns and fit blocks are tested on real groups, not just a sample model.
How to Shop the Right Jacket on Clothoo
When to choose ready-made varsity styles
If you want a faster path with fewer decisions, start with ready-made styles. This is best when:
- Your school colors are common, like red/white or blue/gold
- You want a simple, classic jacket that students already know
- You have a mixed group and want a look that flatters most people
- You need a clear base price to share with parents or the team
In this case, pick a base design from the main varsity jacket selection, choose sizes from XS to 6XL, and then add names or numbers where they matter most.
When to move to full custom designs
If your group has a very specific color set, a modern theme, or a logo that needs special placement, full custom work is the better route. You can adjust almost every detail in the custom builder, including:
- Body fabric type and color
- Sleeve material and color
- Rib-knit stripe layout
- Patch shapes, sizes, and positions
- Front, back, and sleeve text or art
This path gives you more control, but it still follows the same core jacket structure that people expect when they hear words like “school jacket” or “letter style.” The name on the screen might say one thing, but the design language is the same one students and staff know from decades of U.S. school life.
FAQs
Do varsity and letterman jackets use different materials?
Not always. Many school and team jackets use the same base: wool or wool-style body, leather or faux leather sleeves, and rib-knit trim. The main difference comes from how you decorate the jacket with letters and award patches, not from a totally different fabric choice.
Is a letterman jacket only for athletes?
No. Many schools now give letters to band members, academic teams, e-sports teams, and other groups. As long as your school or group uses letters and awards, the same jacket style can work for almost any student or member who meets your rules.
How do I decide if my group should order a “varsity” or “letter” style?
Focus on how you plan to use the jacket. If you want a strong school or team look with simple name or number patches, a classic team style from the main line is enough. If you plan to hand out letters and award patches over time, make sure your design leaves space on the chest, back, and sleeves for future updates.
Can I mix both styles in one order?
Yes. Many groups order the same base jacket, then change the patches by role. For example, athletes might get a large letter and number on the back, while managers or support staff get a smaller logo and name only. Starting with one clear base design makes it easier to handle size runs and orders.
How do sizes work if my team has very different body types?
Clothoo jackets use unisex sizes from XS to 6XL, which helps when you dress a whole group with many shapes and heights. When you plan your order, ask each person to check the size guide, measure at home, and pick a size based on chest and length, not just the tag they wear in T-shirts. This helps your group feel confident when the jackets arrive.
