What Happened to Laverne’s ‘L’ Sweaters From ‘Laverne & Shirley’?
Even if you’ve never seen a single episode of Laverne & Shirley, the Happy Days spinoff that became a major hit in its own right, you can probably easily figure out who is who: Laverne is the one who has a giant “L” sewn on most of her clothing, while Shirley is the one who … doesn’t. Laverne’s iconic look didn’t just help the character stand out over the course of the show’s eight seasons — it set off a revival of monogrammed fashion that was still going strong in the ’90s. But what happened to all of Laverne’s monogrammed clothing? And why did she wear it to begin with?
How Laverne Got Her “L”
The explanation behind the famous “L” embroideries seems pretty obvious — it helps new viewers quickly figure out which character on the show is which. But according to an interview that Penny Marshall, who played Laverne DeFazio, gave to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in 2011, the “L” sweater was originally thought up as a way to cut down on character introductions.
“When you start a television show, the key is to get the audience to remember the names of the characters and their occupations. So an actress ends up saying her name and job many times during the first few episodes of any sitcom,” Marshall said. “When I first read the pilot script of Laverne & Shirley, it had us saying our names and that we were bottle cappers every other page. So when I went to try on my wardrobe, I remembered the fact that I would have to keep repeating my name and it might get pretty boring.
“I was looking for a shortcut as I sifted through the vintage clothing that the wardrobe department had collected from the 1950s. I came across a sweater with an initial sewn in the upper left corner. It suddenly dawned on me how I could save time. Make the initial an ‘L’ and then everyone would remember that my name is Laverne. The wardrobe department took my suggestion and quickly changed the letter to an ‘L’ and the rest is history.”
Where Are the Laverne “L” Clothes Today?
LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY, Cindy Williams, Penny Marshall, 1976-1983
When Laverne & Shirley ended in 1983, many of Laverne’s costumes went home with Marshall herself. “Many people ask if I still have some items of clothing in my closet with the Laverne ‘L’ on them, and my answer is yes,” Marshall said in 2011. “I’m saving them, and if I ever need some quick cash, I can always sell them on eBay or Craigslist.”
Marshall passed in 2018, and what became of her old memorabilia is unclear. But many of Laverne’s monogrammed sweaters, tops and dresses have been sold to private collectors: The website Heritage Auctions shows 17 Laverne costume pieces sold over the past 20-plus years, many of which sold for under $1,000 — though some items, like Laverne and Shirley’s matching bowling shirts, have sold for over $4,000.
While no Laverne-specific item is currently on public display, Laverne & Shirley fans aren’t out of luck — especially if they live in or near the girls’ home state of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Historical Museum has in its collection a screen-used smock for Shotz Brewery, the fictional brewery where Laverne and Shirley worked as cappers. The item will be on display as part of the exhibit “Homegrown: Wisconsin Pop Culture” at the Milwaukee County Historical Society, until March 22, 2025. Visitors can check it out — as well as memorabilia from Happy Days, Oscar Mayer, Liberace and other Milwaukee-related pop culture icons — in person on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, from 9:30am-5pm. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors.
Remind 
1970s Fall TV
September 2023
Take a trip back to the ’70s by looking at the TV Guide Magazine Fall Preview primetime lineups.
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