Cheerleading Uniforms

Ahhh, cheerleader uniforms... Few uniforms have undergone as much change as cheerleader uniforms. The modesty of earlier uniforms has given way to uniforms more appropriate for an exotic dancer. The current style of cheer uniforms, midriff-baring hyper-abbreviated shells and carwash-style slat skirts find no favor in this corner. I have very specific likes and dislikes in most areas of fashion, but this is one area in which the gap is very large. Here are the styles I do like:.

	This is McCall's pattern 9606 and it will appear both here and on the skating page. The one of interest here, of course, is the cheer jumper on the left. Made in purple corduroy with a matching satin lining, this is one of my next projects. Simple and yet very modest.
	Simplicity produced a similar style, 6455, but this one has cap sleeves and is tied behind in a bow. I think this would be cute in a black and red velour, black with red godets. Once again, lined in matching satin.
	Simplicity 8532 is another variant on the cheer jumper, stripped to its essentials. The princess line is complimented by the blouse's collar.
	Simplicity 9645 is a remake of the above pattern, only this time godets have been added to provide contrast to the pleat. Interesting how the pattern companies redo the cover art and then reissue the pattern under a different number. Nice revenue builder and it gives the impression of staying up-to-date!
	Simplicity showed off the effect of contrasting godets on the above jumpers in one of their early teen-oriented "how to sew" magazines. The combination of a cute cheer jumper, saddle shoes and "poodle ears" is almost too precious.
	One of the cheer supply houses offered this one-piece jumper, essentially a leotard with an attached skirt as an updated version. It still retains a modicum of modesty.
	Another style which held favor for a long time was the simple circle skirt (lined in a matching or contrasting satin) and turtleneck sweater, shown on the left. This style, Simplicity 5111, was taken from the skater's skirt which enjoyed long and continuing popularity..
	Adding a bib to the skirt provides a more stable platform on which to mount the chenille emblem as these emblems are actually heavier than they look. When attached to a lightweight sweater, the emblems tend to cause the sweater to sag.
	Another alternative is a knife-pleated skirt providing a straighter line with the same spin characteristics of the circle skirt. The bib was usually buttoned on rather than stitched on, offering variety. This bibbed skirt tops off a puff-sleeved Peter Pan collared white blouse. Cute, yes?
	Puffed sleeves were not uncommon in the sweater/pleated skirt combination either. This sweater also has a polo-style collar to complement the color of the skirt.
	A style which seems to have vanished is the "sailor" style cheer outfit. This one features a nice color combination with contrasting inner pleats.
	The back of the above uniform. I prefer a somewhat shorter sailor collar, perhaps half this length. This style is still popular in cheer jackets as the sailor collar provides a large area onto which embroidery or a chenille emblem can be applied.
	The Japanese are very familiar with the sailor style, as it is used in many of their school uniforms. Popular singers often don school uniform or cheerleader like outfits to present a more youthful image, and this is one such example. Japanese cheerleader uniforms often include matching rhumba style briefs, unheard of in this country.

Now for how to get yourself a cheer uniform. This is actually tougher than buying a school uniform. For much the same reason as the school uniform suppliers, cheer uniform suppliers work through "reps" -- but the cheer reps come out and measure all members of the team and then place the order on the team's behalf. It is a nice scam and offers an enterprising cheer advisor or coach the opportunity to make some money by representing one of the companies in their local area.

Trying to order directly from one of the companies, especially through their on-line facilities, is an exercise in patience-building. Most of them have "minimum orders," consisting of at least 6 or so matching uniforms and simply will not budge from this position.

An exception to this practice is Spirit Etc. <http://www.spiritetc.com/>, from whom you can order single jumpers and jackets. Spirit Etc. has supplied a number of uniforms to those who have attended LG Camp, although they do not have pink as one of their uniform colors. We tried, golly, we tried... To get a pink and white cheer jumper, I made a copy of the purple and white one I had gotten from them in pink cheer poly (also known as ponte poly).

I wish the list above was longer and I encourage cheer supply houses which are willing to produce unit quantities to email me. I will add them to this list as soon as I hear.

Taffy's Favorite Cheerleader Uniforms