Cheerleading Uniforms

The cheerleading uniform history is vast, covering many eras of time.  From sweaters and long dresses to the current short styles of today’s cheerleaders, the history of cheerleading uniforms has certainly come a long way from their humble beginnings.

From the early 1900s, cheerleading uniforms represented their school and fashion sense of the times. Both male and female cheerleaders generally wore a large sweater with the first letter of their school’s name emblazoned on the front. And if they were a high school, often the letters “H” and “S” would appear in smaller letters below the main one of the school’s name. If the weather was warmer, polo shirts were worn instead of the heavier, hotter sweaters.

The sweaters were mostly made from wool and while they did present a uniformed cheerleading team, they were also quite bulky and hot while not being very functional for the rhythmic, athletic movements required by the constant cheering.

In the early 1900s, it was common for most sweaters to be cardigans sporting several buttons on the front. This was emphasized by the turtle-neck shirts or collared blouse worn underneath. For these types of cardigans, the school’s letter was generally smaller and sewn into one of the upper corners near the shoulder.  Some sweaters even had the symbol of a megaphone near the letter to further identify them as cheerleaders.

For women, they augmented the cardigan with an ankle-length wool skirt that was usually darker in color than the sweater. In some religious or private universities, cheerleading squads wore plaid fabrics for their skirts, which generally matched the classroom uniforms they were required to wear.

Saddle shoes or flat canvas sneakers complete with dress socks completed the typical cheerleading uniform. This general style remained relatively unchanged for several decades due mostly to the limited types of fabrics available and the general fashion trends of the times.

In 1948 a former cheerleader at SMU, Lawrence “Herkie” Herkimer began selling pom pon kits to local high schools and began the era of cheerleading camps in the Dallas area, having a profound impact on how cheerleading was seen around the country.

The advancement of synthetic fabrics and a change in fashion sensibilities in the 1960s changed the cheerleading uniform history creating the new trends in cheerleading uniforms history that we see today. Shorter skits, tighter, more lightweight tops and bright colors not only allowed the cheerleaders to be more comfortable on the sidelines, they now had the uniforms durable and flexible enough to allow for more athletic movements and coordinated routines.

Based on the cheerleading uniform history, today’s cheerleading uniforms are far cry from where they began.  Especially with the expanding popularity of cheerleading as a sport complete with national competitions, the future of cheerleading uniforms will certainly incorporate even more advanced fabrics that coincide with the fashion trends of the day. 

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