This summer we’re trying a little something new when it comes to our throwback leotard rankings. Rather than looking at single meets, we’ve decided to take a trip down memory lane for specific teams, taking into account a wide range of leos from different eras and finding our all-time favorites from a single program, as well as illustrating how designs have changed over the years.
Here’s how it’ll work: Our judges for the week will choose their top 10 and rank them based on their personal preferences. Plus, you’ll get a chance to tell us your thoughts! Did we leave out your all-time fave from the team? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
This week, we’re taking on George Washington with senior EAGL and ECAC editor Mary Emma and administrative assistant Jenna joining Editor in Chief Elizabeth for the rundown.
Elizabeth
No. 1: I know a lot of my editors at CGN don’t care for this leo because of how busy it is, but I like it, especially the yellow to blue ombre and all the sparkles.
No. 2: I love the shade and fabric used with the gold in this one, plus it pairs nicely with the shimmery navy.
No. 3: I love how all the design on this leo comes from rhinestones.
No. 4: This design is pretty wild, which you can say a lot about GW’s leos, but it’s especially true with this one. I mean, feathery-zebra print? I like it. Don’t @ me.
No. 5: I wish I could have found some better pics on this one, but I like the yellow to blue ombre and how well it blends together.
No. 6: GW uses what I call printed designs a lot, and I love how it looks on this leo with the nice shade of blue blending together. I also like the simple, classy rhinestone outlining on the collar.
No. 7: This is definitely an older design, but I like how athletic it looks on all the gymnasts. The GW on the back is a bit big, but I like the sleeves.
No. 8: My favorite part of this leo is the darker gold used on the sleeves. It’s underutilized for sure.
No. 9: Another good ombre leo. I also like the script Colonials that extends from front to back.
No. 10: This has definitely grown on me since I first saw it. I think it’s a little overboard on GW logos, but the design itself is pretty good.
Honorable mention: I couldn’t leave without talking about the GIANT George Washington head on the back of this leo. I mean. Yeah…
Mary Emma
No. 1: I had never seen this one before now, but I am IN LOVE! The blue to yellow ombre is stunning!
No. 2: Again, another stunning yellow to blue ombre look. Plus the rhinestones add a nice touch.
No. 3: Normally, a leo with this many rhinestones would be too busy for me, but in this case, I love it! I think it’s because they are the design instead of just enhancing the design.
No. 4: I love the ombre on both the body and the sleeves, and the script “Colonials” on the side is a nice touch and doesn’t look out of place.
No. 5: This leo looks so elegant. I love the detail on the neckline, and the shiny blue ombre on the main part of the leo is lovely.
No. 6: I weirdly really like this one? Yes, it’s wild, but it’s exactly the kind of leo that we’ve come to expect from George Washington, so I had to include it on the list. And all the school spirit points for literally putting George Washington’s face on the back.
No. 7: The shade of blue is gorgeous, and it uses the perfect amount of sparkle. This one would be much higher except that I don’t love the “GW” logos all over.
No. 8: It’s a simple design and definitely one that is used a lot, but I really like it. I especially love the blue ombre on the main part of the leo.
No. 9: This is another wild one and not normally a design I’d gravitate to, but I think it really works here. It goes along with the crazy George Washington designs we’ve all come to know and love (or hate).
No. 10: This one is simple but elegant. It uses just the right amount of sparkle to enhance the look but isn’t too overpowering.
Jenna
No. 1: One of the things that I love about George Washington’s leos is the intricacy of the designs, and this is a perfect example of that. I absolutely love the criss-cross design on the chest and how it continues on the sleeves, not to mention the subtle ombre at the neckline. This is one of my favorite leos of all-time.
No. 2: This will forever be the leo I associate with George Washington. I again love the intricate chest design; it’s unique, bold and reminiscent of royalty.
No. 3: In addition to the attractive sparkle design, I love the contrast between the bold blue and more muted gold. I know the mini GWs are somewhat controversial among fans, but I personally enjoy them because they’re a unique way of subtly incorporating school spirit.
No. 4: The colors in this leo are simply dreamy. I also love the details around the neckline.
No. 5: I know I’m likely in the minority, but I’m a big fan of large letters/words on leos (think the Georgia G or the Alabama A on sides of leos). That combined with the two separate ombres makes this leo a winner in my book.
No. 6: While a little more muted than some other George Washington leos, I enjoy the sparkle design on this one, as well as the detail near the neckline.
No. 7: It says a lot that I only have this leo at No. 7 because I love it! The uniqueness of the stripes is my favorite part, as well as the contrasting shades of blue and the ombre. I think the only thing holding this one back is the placement of the GW; I’d like to see it moved to the back or to the hip.
No. 8: There’s a lot to love about this relatively simple leo (simple by George Washington standards, at least), but the main reason it’s on my list is the metallic bronze sleeves, which work surprisingly well with the other colors in the design.
No. 9: The ombre on this leo is stunning, and I also really like the big GW on the sleeves.
No. 10: I love the design of the sleeves on this leo, though I don’t think there’s enough contrast between the blue part of the sleeves and the navy torso.
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley, Mary Emma Burton and Jenna King
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