The blazer was originally a double-breasted jacket worn by men and schoolchildren in 19th century England. Today, it is worn by both men and women and can replace a suit jacket. It has gone in and out of fashion, with current trends favoring shorter and more fitted styles. The name comes from the bright colors of early versions, which were worn for informal recreational activities.
The sailing jacket or jacket is generally a double-breasted jacket, first worn by men, and normally by schoolchildren in late 19th century England. While today’s blazer can be worn by either men or women and is usually available in soft colors, the early blazer was often striped and made of bright colors. On boys’ uniforms, one side usually had a school or home patch. Other patches like prefect badges can also decorate it.
Early blazers in boys’ schools were often worn with shorts and knee-highs. Today, it is still quite common to see them in private schools, especially boarding schools require a navy blue blazer for girls and boys. It can also be part of men’s and boys’ clothing, replace a suit jacket, and be worn with twill pants. Fabrics can range from wool flannel to light linen.
In the late 1970s, the blazer became a part of women’s fashion, especially when the movie Annie Hall popularized “menswear” for women. In the 1980s, the garment seemed to be part of every female worker’s uniform. They often came in elaborate colors, with gold buttons and huge shoulder pads. Wool flannel, cashmere, and wool gabardine were popular fabrics for the women’s version. Lighter fabrics like cotton, polyester, or rayon can also be used.
In the 1990s, the jacket was definitely coming out of women’s fashion. Especially large shoulder pads were seen as old-fashioned. Newer women’s jackets or jackets often fitted more closely to the women’s body, rather than featuring the boxy construction of the menswear-inspired versions. Since then, various jackets have come in and out of style. The emphasis in today’s women’s jackets is short jackets or fitted pieces. The longer, hip-covering blazer is harder to find, but there’s little doubt that some designer will eventually “invent” it again at a later time.
The name comes from the bright coloring of the early versions of the jacket. Patterns, stripes and colors “blazed” in the outdoor world, evoking a festive occasion. It is interesting that now people see the blazer as a formal garment, when its first uses were much more informal. They were worn by cricketers and boaters, hence the name sailing jacket, to denote the festive and informal aspects of recreational activities.
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