Regimental Blazer

The sartorial term blazer originated with the red "blazers" of the Lady Margaret Boat Club (1825), the rowing club of St. John's College, Cambridge. The Lady Margaret club jackets were termed blazers because of the bright red cloth, and the term survived the original red coat. Parallel with this development was the reefer jacket of naval origin and described as a short double-breasted jacket worn by sailors in harsh weather, when they performed duties, such as reefing the sails. Both these origins evolved to what is now commonly described by the term blazer. a modern dark jacket resembling a suit jacket, but cut more casually, single as well as double breasted (boating jacket), and with metallic buttons.
Where the blazer is part of the dress of an armed service regimental association or veterans' organisation, it is normal for a badge to be sewn to the breast pocket. The blazer is normally paired with grey trousers.