Roots Long Varsity Jacket
The casual outerwear staple gets warmer and more chic
The varsity jacket has well and truly shed its academic-athletic ties to become a contemporary fall style for all genders, with everyone from streetwear brands to high-end fashion houses offering their own take—whether you’re going for casual or avant-garde. Roots has been creating their signature version since the ’80s, and you can see the Award Jacket making cameos throughout pop culture’s timeline. The Canadian brand outfitted the Jamaican bobsled team for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary after they arrived coatless, in summer attire, with no official uniforms—and the jackets would later appear in the film “Cool Runnings.” The next year, Janet Jackson collaborated with Roots to design a tour jacket for her Rhythm Nation World Tour. Fast forward to now, when Drake was rocking his custom Roots x OVO varsity jacket yesterday at Kanye West’s NYFW show.
For Fall 2015, Roots is offering a longer version of their classic silhouette. They’re certainly not the first brand to lengthen the letterman look, but their new style for women (which they’ve dubbed the “Long Sorority Jacket“) is notable for its clean, sophisticated presentation—with no letters, numbers or visible branding. The sleeves are luxe, as they’re made from 100% cowhide leather—a material the brand is well-versed in. Every Roots varsity jacket is made by hand in their Toronto factory.
Roots’ Long Sorority Jacket is now available online for $398 in Camel; the Midnight colorway will release later this season.
Images courtesy of Roots
