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A blazer is a type of single-breasted coat, closely related to a suit jacket. It differs from a suit jacket in that its buttons are usually metallic and its outer material generally more durable, and blazers occur most often in blue, though other colors are common enough. This page explains the classic form — the double-breasted navy blazer with brass buttons — and the traditions behind it, from naval dress and school and club uniforms to the colored and striped blazers of rowing clubs, and it sets out the competing accounts of where the name itself came from.
A blazer is a type of single breasted coat, closely related to a suit jacket. Generally, it differs from a suit jacket in that the buttons are usually metallic, and the outer material generally more durable. They occur most often in blue colors, but blazers of other colors are not unheard of. They are included often in uniforms of civilian bodies, such as airlines, boys schools, yacht clubs, and private security organizations.
Looking at the classic blazer, the double-breasted blue one with brass buttons, the conclusion that the jacket is of military tradition is rather obvious. Most say the name stems from the HMS Blazer, a frigate, whose captain, when faced with a visit to his ship by Queen Victoria, decided to outfit his crew in short double breasted jackets in navy blue serge, with brass Royal Navy buttons. It is said to have been modeled after the reefer jacket of midshipmen. Apparently the Queen was so smitten with the "uniform" that it became the style. Today, the blazer remains navy blue with brass buttons, although variations can be had in black, tartan green or even red. Colored and striped blazers have been the style since the public school days, and there is also a tale that the red summer jackets of the oarsmen of the Lady Margaret Boat Club, in Cambridge, were said to look "ablaze" and began a tradition which today is seen in single breasted blazers at Henley Regatta.
Arguably, the name could also derive from the traditional practice of embroidering or attaching a school's, regiment's, club's, or ship's coat-of-arms to the breast of the coat - thus emblazoning the garment.
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| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/blazer ). 11/2/04 |
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The Name and the NavyThe classic blazer carries its history on its buttons. The double-breasted blue jacket with brass buttons is plainly of military and naval tradition, and the HMS Blazer story — a captain dressing his crew uniformly for a royal visit, and the style catching on — remains the most repeated account of the name. Two other explanations compete with it: the red summer jackets of the Lady Margaret Boat Club oarsmen at Cambridge were said to look ablaze, beginning a blazing tradition carried on by single-breasted blazers at Henley Regatta; and the name may come from emblazoning, the practice of embroidering or attaching a school's, regiment's, club's or ship's coat of arms to the breast of the coat. All three accounts agree on the garment's character: a jacket that announces belonging. Wearing a Blazer TodayThat announcing function is why the blazer persists as uniform for airlines, schools, yacht clubs and security organizations, and as the default smart jacket outside uniform use. Navy remains the standard, with black, tartan green, red and striped versions marking particular clubs and schools. Because the cloth is more durable than a suit jacket's and the jacket is not part of a matched suit, a blazer pairs freely — with grey trousers for the classic combination, or with lighter trousers in summer — making it the hardest-working separate jacket in a wardrobe. Fit follows suit-jacket rules: shoulders clean, buttons closing without strain, and the metallic buttons kept polished, since on a blazer they are part of the design rather than a fastening detail. Common QuestionsHow does a blazer differ from a suit jacket?A blazer is closely related to a suit jacket but differs in two usual ways: its buttons are usually metallic rather than matched to the cloth, and its outer material is generally more durable. It is not part of a matched suit of jacket and trousers in the way a suit jacket is. Why is the classic blazer navy with brass buttons?Most accounts trace the classic blazer's military tradition to HMS Blazer, a frigate whose captain, facing a visit by Queen Victoria, outfitted his crew in short double-breasted navy blue serge jackets with brass Royal Navy buttons, modeled on the midshipmen's reefer jacket. The Queen is said to have been so taken with the uniform that it became the style. Who wears blazers as uniform?Blazers are included often in the uniforms of civilian bodies such as airlines, boys' schools, yacht clubs and private security organizations. Colored and striped blazers have been the style since public school days, and a coat of arms may be embroidered or attached to the breast. More to Explore
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