March 10, 2023back to school

YK2 Collegiate: The Ultimate Varsity Style Guide

Collegiate Couture: The Ultimate Varsity Style Guide

The ‘90s and ‘00s renaissance has kept us captivated time and time again over the past few years of fashion, and its chokehold shows no signs of relinquishing. But this time around? We’re bringing Y2K back to school.

(Left) Blonde teen girl wearing blue, pink green vest. (Right) Two girls: One blonde, wearing blue orange collared tee jeans. One brunette, wearing a white graphic tee jeans.

Characterised by collegiate stripes, vibrant pops of colour and classic preppy casual, the varsity style is once again making its rounds in the world of fashion. And for good reason! This timeless, classic aesthetic brings a pop of youthful nostalgia to any occasion.

But what, you may be wondering, does ‘varsity style’ actually mean?

Varsity Style Explained

While usually synonymous with classic Varsity (or Letterman) jackets, the trend looks slightly different this time around.

Now, runway references to varsity fashion are decidedly more subtle. Recent fashion week shows have seen MSGM featuring collegiate graphics and back-to-school styling, while Family First nods to preppy varsity sports style within their latest A/W23 collections. If this tells us anything, it’s that this trend is definitely on the rise.

Lucky for us, we at Gen Woo managed to get ahead of the curve - and you can, too!

5 young girls huddled together, smiling at the camera in an array of purple, blue, yellow and white pieces from the Y2K Collegiate collection

Featuring classic Gen Woo playfulness and sustainable craftsmanship, our take on varsity style comes in the form of our Y2K Collegiate capsule collection.

Specially created with tweens and Gen Z women in mind, these pieces perfectly combine Y2K influence with 2023’s most on-trend designs.

Get The Y2K Collegiate Look

Stepping away from our usual neutrals comfort zone (don’t get us wrong, we’re still die-hard greige fans too), the Y2K Collegiate capsule collection utilises vivid pops of colour and preppy silhouettes for the ultimate throwback ‘school girl’ feel.

So whether you’re a long-time preppy-chic advocate or just feel like dipping your toe into a new realm of style this season, we’re here to give you the 411 on nailing the varsity-inspired look.

A tall woman with a sharp brunette bob stands posing with crossed arms in a cerulean, boxy sweatshirt, navy runner shorts and white sneakers.

Starting at the basics, a contrast-binding tank top or simple tee instantly adds fun and youthful energy to any ‘fit. For super simple styling, add a pair of coordinating runner shorts and a slouchy sweater - comfy, playful, and effortlessly trendy.