There are very few – if any – jackets that encapsulate the all-American, vintage sportswear image better than the classic varsity jacket. Now, I’m not American, so it wasn’t like my high school hallways were plastered with jocks wearing Lettermans. The first exposure I had to the varsity jacket, like many non-Americans, was in movies. I wish I could tell you that it was Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men that piqued my interest. Sadly, it was Buzz in Home Alone – a depressing introduction to the varsity jacket, but an intro nonetheless.
Nowadays, very few brands are reproducing varsity jackets like the good ol’ days. One of the standout exceptions to that is Dehen Knitting Company, a brand that’s been producing American collegiate sportswear, by hand, for over a century. The Dehen 1920 Varsity Jacket is an elevated take on the classic, built with a 24 oz. Pendleton® wool black melton body and premium cowhide leather sleeves in a contrasting ‘rust’ color, the jacket features a full satin lining; an interior chest pocket; welted lower hand pockets; an iconic worsted virgin wool rib knit striped collar, hem, and cuffs; and an antique brass snap front placket.
The colorway of this particular number is perfect for the fall, with the black body mirroring shorter, darker days and the rust sleeves echoing the crunchy brown leaves on the sidewalk. If you’re in the market for a classic, transitional jacket, get involved. It’s the uniform of winners, people.
Available for $595 from Division Road Inc.
