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This article refers to the garment. For other uses of the word "blazer" see the disambiguation page.

Single-breasted Blazer

A blazer or boating jacket is a type of jacket, usually double-breasted although single-breasted blazers have become more common recently. A blazer resembles a suit jacket except that it usually has patch pockets with no flaps, and metal shank buttons. A blazer's cloth is usually of a durable nature as it is used in schools and was used for sport.

They often form part of the uniform dress of bodies, such as airlines, schools, yacht or rowing clubs, and private security organizations. As sporting dress has become more adapted to the activity, the blazer has become more restricted to clubs' social meetings.

Commonly, blazers are navy blue, but almost every colour and combination of colours has been used, particularly by schools and sporting organizations.

Where the blazer is part of the dress of a school, college, sports club or armed service veterans' association, it is normal for a badge to be sewn to the breast pocket. In schools this is likely to vary according to the student's standing in the school; whether a member of the junior or senior school, being a prefect or having been awarded colours. Colours are awarded in recognition of particular achievement in some academic or sporting field. The notion of awarding colours in school is related to that of awarding colours to a regiment.

The term 'blazer' to describe sporting jackets of this variety originated with the red 'blazers' of the Lady Margaret Boat Club, the rowing club of St. John's College, Cambridge. The LMBC jackets were termed 'blazers' due to their bright red 'blazing' colour, and the term was adopted for wider use later.