Varley popped up into my feed via Grace Atwood and even though the sweater she was featuring wasn’t something I was going for I was drawn in by her rave review and the quality look of the item. So when I started scrolling through the brand I stopped on a couple zip up jackets that were more my style. This is my Varley Jacket review.
Varley Jacket Review: The Kerwin
Described as a midweight outerwear style that is part puffer part fleece zip jacket the Kerwin style is just perfect. . While I would not consider this a winter jacket I was surprised how warm I was wearing this jacket with just a long sleeve tee underneath.
If the temperature was hovering around zero I would be fairly comfortable wearing this jacket with a sweater underneath. The fit is perfectly roomy. Not so oversized that you need to size down but there is enough room for layers. Don’t you hate when things are so snug you can only fit a t-shirt underneath? This jacket isn’t like that.
The hem hits below the waist and the curve at the back covers the bum. When zipped though I found this jacket to be more snug through the hips and bum than through the shoulders. I had loads of room in the shoulders.
Fully zipped up this jacket has a high neckline to keep out the cold. The hood was roomy without making me feel lost inside. Some hoods are just too deep.
I have styled this jacket for winter because I wanted to share it asap. However I would say for the climate I live in this is more of a spring fall jacket. I could get away with it on warmer winter days but definitely not below minus 5.
The pockets are nice a deep. They do not have zips and because they open directly at the sides it is harder to stuff your hands in there.
The material of this jacket is fantastic. The upper portion is similar to a packable puffer. The bottom portion and the sleeves is fleece on the inside. And it is all very soft and lovely. I have never had a sporty jacket that looks so luxurious. The Balfern jacket is the sister jacket. It is cut shorter and has no hood. I have the silver lining colour. I could have totally gone for the Iron one though if it was not sold out in my size.
Varley Jacket Review; Norfolk Jacket
The other Varley jacket I ordered was the Norfolk style. This is a teddy jacket but unlike any other teddy coat I have had this fabric is super soft. I feel more like a soft stuffy in this coat!
Again in this jacket I had loads of room in the shoulders and it was snug in the hips and bum when fully zipped. This jacket has a nice high neck so I would definitely use this to layer under a light rain jacket in the transition seasons.
This jacket hits me around the same place at just past the midsection and the back covers the bum. I am wearing my Apres ski jogger here but you could feel comfortable wearing leggings as well as there is bum coverage.
I find the pockets easier to use on this jacket as there is a slant pocket that isn’t positioned right at the hem, but in towards the zipper more. It is more natural pocket placement for stuffing your hands in there when you forget mittens.
While I was plenty warm wearing this jacket for pictures it is more of a winter layer not a winter coat. I would say that to wear this as outerwear it would be more spring/fall. Because of the fluffy teddy fabric it is more bulky than the Kerwin jacket but it is so soft I don’t even care about the bulkiness.
If your active outerwear needs an upgrade, or you want a jacket for travel that looks good and can keep you warm I highly recommend these. They are pricier but in my opinion worth it. Sometimes we spend money on things and are disappointed because they price doesn’t match what we are getting. I can honestly say that these jackets are so much nicer than any cheaper version I have had that is similar. The fabrics are so luxe.
Size wise I got both of these jackets in an XL as this translates to a US 12. I would say these are true to size. Hopefully this brand will consider extending their size range as I don’t really consider a US 12 an extra large.
A number of retailers are carrying this brand but I ordered directly from Varley. They shipped to Canada duties paid although that wasn’t what the website had said was going to happen.
What do you think? Is this brand on your radar?