The first blazers were bright scarlet jackets worn by student members of the Lady Margaret boat club at Cambridge University. Joking reference to a blaze of colour was also applied to brightly striped boating jackets worn by English university students on cricket, tennis and rowing teams during the 1880's. During the 1930's the style generally became more sober and very popular for summer wear. The American versions were popular in blue, bottle green, tobacco brown, cream and buff. Metallic buttons traditionally adorned the centre front of the jacket, and they were worn with cotton or linen slacks and shorts.