After the successful Super Solider procedure, Steve Rogers managed to stop Dr. Erskine’s killer, Heinz Kruger. While this achieved him national fame, Rogers was once again denied the opportunity to fight on the frontlines of WWII. He was instead offered a role by the USO to boost financial and moral support of the war. When Rogers accepted this role, he became the face of the war in America and donned the moniker, Captain America. Rogers performed at shows throughout the U.S. in an effort to raise financial support, marketing “Series E Defense Bonds” and moral support, by filming fictionalized film reels of Captain America leading troops in the war. For these performances, Rogers’ donned a brightly colored, America inspired uniform and shield(which he used to hide his cheat sheet of lines when he first began performing). Rogers’ tour ending on the frontlines in Italy when after a performance, Rogers’ learns that his childhood best friend, Bucky Barnes, and his unit were trapped behind enemy lines and there was no plan for a rescue mission. Rogers then donned his Original Field Uniform, and with the help of Agent Peggy Carter and Howard Stark, liberated Barnes and the other allied P.O.W. himself.

Original Field Uniform

Captain America’s first field uniform was a provisional suit that included his USO Captain America uniform and shield, the “A” helmet from one of the Star Spangled Singers and a combat jacket, pants and boots in order to make the suit less conspicuous and more battle worthy. Steve donned this uniform during his mission to rescue Bucky Barnes, the Howling Commandos and the other Allied prisoners. 

SSR Field Uniform

Captain America’s second uniform was designed by Howard Stark with direct input from Steve Rogers. Stark makes this uniform, as well as the Howling Commandos uniforms, from a ballistic and knife resistant carbon polymer. Stark had several designs to replace Rogers’ USO shield but Steve opted for his iconic Vibranium shield, which was a prototype at this time. 

This is the uniform Rogers wore the longest, as it was his primary suit during his war efforts(Kevin Feige has suggested Rogers presumably had multiple suits throughout WWII) and is the suit he wore when he crash landed Red Skull’s jet in the Arctic. 

First Avengers Uniform

With design input from Agent Phil Coulson, an avid collector of Captain America WWII memorabilia, Rogers’ first Avengers uniform closely resembles Rogers’ original USO uniform. The uniform functions as light body armor as seen when Rogers’ took a Chitauri energy blast at close range with no penetration or damage to the uniform. While this is the slimmest and most aerodynamic of Rogers’ suits, it is the only one that does not allow him to strap his shield to his back. This outfit was last worn during the Battle of New York but is briefly seen again when Loki disguised himself as Captain America and the PSA used in high schools as seen in SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING. 

*A heavily textured and open eared design was briefly considered before the design team settled on the Earth-616 inspired finalized helmet.

S.H.I.E.L.D Stealth Uniform

A nomex and kevlar uniform, this suit was navy blue with silver stripes and the first to feature an open eared helmet. Given to Rogers’ by S.H.I.E.L.D for covert missions, the suit was fitted with a communicator in the right glove and straps that allowed him to magnetically latch his shield to his back. This uniform was last worn during Rogers’ escape from the Triskelion and was left by Rogers in a high school gymnasium for S.H.I.E.L.D to recover. 

*Rogers is seen wearing this suit during the AVENGERS: ENDGAME trailer but it is not clear if this is a new, post-Decimation scene or a flashback scene. 

Golden Age Uniform

Upon learning that HYDRA had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D from the agency’s inception, Rogers’ servers all ties with the organization and retrieves a modified version of his SSR Field Uniform from the Smithsonian Museum. The Golden Age Uniform featured slight design differences and is not made from the same materials as Rogers’ SSR Field Uniform as this uniform is susceptible to both knives and gun fire. Feige has suggested Rogers may have had multiple uniforms during WWII, leaving it unclear if the Golden Age Uniform is an authentic WWII uniform Rogers’ once wore or a replica made for the Smithsonian. 

Second Avengers Uniform

Rogers’ first post S.H.I.E.L.D uniform marries the utilitarian style and functionality of the Stealth Uniform with iconic imagery of Rogers’ early uniforms. Paid for and designed by Tony Stark, this uniform possesses strong electromagnets in the gloves that allow Rogers to retrieve his shield more effectively. This uniform is more durable than his previous suits with the ability to withstand Ultron’s concussion blasts and Iron Man’s repulsor blasts.

Third Avengers Uniform

A modified version of the second Avengers Uniform, Rogers’ third Avengers uniform featured a slight cosmetic re-design and the return to the more traditional magnetic back straps for the shield. Some time after the ratification of the Sokovia Accords and before the Clash of the Avengers, Rogers removed the Avengers logo from the shoulders of the uniform. 

Nomad Uniform

After the Battle at the HYDRA Siberian Facility and breaking the Avengers out of the Raft, Rogers went on the run. During his time on the run, he removed the star from the center of his uniform and discarded his helmet. As Rogers spent more time on the run, the suit became dirtied, darkening the color and has more rips on the chest, exposing the chain mail/linked scales underneath the uniforms surface.  

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post, you can find more of my thoughts on twitter, @historyofthemcu. Additionally, @bloodybaroness and myself host The History of the MCU Podcast, a weekly podcast that reviews and analyzes not only the Infinity Saga but the new Marvel Studios Disney+ shows beginning with WandaVision. We would love if you gave us a listen and are currently available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio and Amazon Music.