High school jackets have become a timeless tradition among students because it is a representation of their academic and athletic achievements.
High school lettermen jackets are loved by everyone. Students have been proudly wearing these jackets for centuries now. After all, they are more than just a piece of garment. They are classy and versatile – and an expression of your school spirit. The most amazing thing about these jackets is that despite being a clothing item they hold all your school memories. This is the reason why people keep cherishing them even years after they have left their high school. Moreover, these jackets have been a high school trend since they first made their public appearance.
These jackets became a trend not just because of the symbolic value they hold. In fact, students love them because of how they can wear them wherever they want. In this blog, we are going to discuss how these high school lettermen jackets evolved to become a tradition among students of every era. Let’s dive in to find out what factors contributed to transforming a mere jacket into a representation of school accomplishments and pride.
History of High School Lettermen Jackets
The history of high school lettermen jackets goes way back to the 1860s. They were first worn by the basketball team of Harvard University as a way to show team pride. These jackets grabbed the attention because of the way they were making the Harvard team stand out from the crowd. So, many other sports teams and schools jumped onto this bandwagon and started wearing varsity jackets. Most of these high school jackets usually have a letter on the front. This represents the school or team name. Additional patches can also be added to the jackets to acknowledge your accomplishments. Today, varsity jackets continue to be popular among students. In fact, it has become a staple in the high school culture. After all, it represents your pride and belonging to a community. From academic stars to sports heroes, everyone cherishes these jackets as a reward for their victories.
How High School Lettermen Jackets Have Become a Timeless Tradition?
The high school lettermen jackets you see today were not like this in the beginning. They have changed a lot – and for good. These jackets were once used to be lettered sweaters (when worn by Harvard students). As soon as schools started to adopt this tradition of wearing lettered garments to curricular and extracurricular events, these changed the way how they looked. By the 1930s the sweaters took the shape we cherish so much – jackets. They became even more popular than before because of the versatility factor. The best part of modern varsity jackets is that you can personalize them the way you like. Paint it like canvas and tell your high school story in your special way. Undoubtedly, these jackets have changed a lot. However, one thing has not changed and can never be: they are the sign of high school pride.
The Symbolize School Pride
No doubt, high school letterman jackets are so loved because they tell the story of your high school glory. As aforementioned, these jackets are not just clothing items. They represent your achievement, belonging, and high school spirit. Moreover, students earn these through dedication, hard work, and accomplishment in academics or athletics. This is the reason why these jackets hold so much value. In fact, they offer a great way to proudly wear your victories on your shoulders. Furthermore, most schools have set certain criteria for students to earn these jackets. This includes achieving a certain level of academic success or becoming a rising star in sports. This is another reason why students wear these jackets so proudly. They are literally the award of their efforts.
Moreover, wearing these jackets gives you a sense that you belong somewhere. It makes the wearer feel like he is a part of a bigger community. This way, these jackets become a badge of honor conveying your belonging to your school or team.
Popularity and Cultural Impact
High school lettermen jackets have become a staple in high schools. Students proudly wear them to events, games, and even casually. In fact, they consider wearing these jackets trendy. No doubt, the varsity jacket trend takes great influence from movies and TV shows. Many iconic shows have featured these jackets which fueled the high school jacket culture even more. When teens see their favorite characters wearing these jackets, they want to wear them too. Apart from movies and TV shows, another factor that has given a boost to this culture is celebrity influence. Every other day, an influencer or celebrity posts pictures on Instagram wearing varsity jackets. This automatically instills the urge in teens to earn one for themselves and flaunt it as their favorite celebs did.
You Can Style High School Lettermen Jackets in So Many Ways!
The best thing about varsity jackets is that they are versatile. This means that you can style them in different ways. You can pair them with your formal fit to carry them at events. Wear them with athleisure if you are going to a game to support your team. You can even wear them on a daily basis by pairing casual clothes with them.
Another amazing thing – you can also style your jacket according to the season. Whether it’s winter or spring season, wear the weather-appropriate clothes underneath and you are ready to showcase your victories in public. Moreover, guys and girls are free to style their jackets in any way. Wear them with a skirt and thigh-high boots or with a pair of jeans and a plain white tee, the choice is yours. These versatile styling options are one of the reasons that made high school lettermen jackets part and parcel of the school culture.
