Figure 1.--Here we see a father with his two children, giving us an idea of headwear worn by men , girls and boys, we think in the 1900s. We are not sure how to describe the man's cap. It seems to be somewhere between a school cap and a flat cap. An adult would not wear a schoolncapn(except for sport), but they did wear flat caps. The girl wears a fancy summer bonnet and the boy wears a classic peaked school cap. Notice the piping on his cap.

Headwear was still widely worn by English boys in the early-20th century. At the turn-of-the 20th century, the peaked school cap was emerging the dominant headwear style for boys. We see some different styles such as flat caps. Yonger boys from affluent families might wear broad-brimmed hats. Older boys might wear boaters. Schools played a major role in setting styles. Boys at a few tony private schools wore top hats. We notice some boys seasonally wearing stocking caps. Boys of more modest circumstances might wear stocking caps, headwear that required more respectability as the century progressed. They were so common even adopted by the Cubs when the group was founded (1916). Most boys except for the particularly affluent had fairly simple wardrobes and if they had headwear it was commonly a peaked cap. Thus while they came to be called school caps, they were not just worn to school. The peaked school cap was ubiquitos after World War I (1920s). Interestingly while boys had virtually this one type of headwear, girls had quite a range of different styles. The peaked cap becme a kind of iconic symbol of British boys. They were done in many different colors at private schools, but less so at state schools which did not have uniforms. Older boys might wear various styles of flat caps. The school cap continued to be standard wear (1930s). The school cap was still standard headwear at the time of World War II (1939-45). Large numbers of boys reported for evacuation weaing their school caps. School caps began going out of style, but were still wide worn (1950s). Boys no longer liked wearing them. Some schools had strict rules, especially private schools. We see relatively few boys wearing school caps (1970s), although Cubs continued wearing them. Headwear in general by this time was declining in popularity. Boys began wearing American baseball caps (1980s). We even see col miners wearing them.

The 1900s

Headwear was still widely worn by English boys in the early-20th century (figure 1). headwear waas considered an essential part of proper dress. Boys were taught to tip their caps. This formality was standard in the 19th century and continued to be the case in the 1900s. Hats wre still worn. Girls might wear really fancy ones when dressing up. Boy might wear boaters, at least boys from families in comfortable circunstances. While hats were still worn, caps were becoming the standard wear for most English boys. At the turn-of-the 20th century, the peaked school cap was emerging the dominant headwear style for boys. We see, however, some different styles. Flat caps, a related style, also seem common. Yonger boys from affluent families might wear broad-brimmed hats. The peaked school cap was becoming standard wear. Older boys might wear boaters. Schools played a major role in setting styles. Boys at a few tony private schools wore top hats. We notice some boys seasonally wearing stocking caps. Boys of more modest circumstances might wear stocking caps, headwear that required more respectability as the century progressed. Girls could wear very fancy hats and bonnets. In short, caps were becoming increasingly common, but hats were still worn, although social class factors were involved.

The 1910s

Headwear continued to be widly worn. Boys in the 1910s wore different types of headwear, but the caps were the mot commo. The peaked cap emerged in the 1910s as the standard cap for British school-age boys. It was a cap with a small peak and rounded crown. It was not universal. We still see flat caps, but it had become by far the the most common style for boys. It became an iconic symbol of English school boys. Boys wore then in and out of school. This was a reflection of the fact that boys unless they came from wealthy did not have large wardrobes. So many boys, especially working-class boys, only had one cap or for that matter one type of headwear for all occassions. Middle class boys would have larger wardrobes, but not like the wardrobes of modern boys. Photographs from the period show large numbers of boys wearing these school caps. Most boys except for the particularly affluent had fairly simple wardrobes and if they had headwear it was commonly a peaked cap. Thus while they came to be called school caps, they were not just worn to school. They were so common that the Scouts adopted the style when they went to create a juvenile or Cub program. The Boy Scout movement approved a junior or Cub program (1916). The Scouts chose a Green cap with gold trim in the style of a school cap. This same style was adopted by many Cub programs all over the world. Boys still wore hats in the 1910s. They were not as common as caps, but they were worn. Younger boys might wear briad-brimmed hats, but this was declining. Somewhat older boys might wear boaters, but this would be when dressing up or in some cases school. The boater is not a peactical style for boys. We also notice a soft hat that would evolve into a sun hat or golf hat as it is commonly called today. Except for the sun hats, these hats were generlly seen as a formal style. Headwear was very common at the time even for children, and what boys usually wore were caps.

The 1920s

Headwear was still standard during the 1920s. Adults and children still commnly wore headwear when leaving home. English boys almost always wore caps rather than hats. Hats were rare for boys. Ans we do not see much diversity. The peaked school cap was ubiqutos after World War I (1920s). There were dufferebt colors and patterms (segments and circles), but the basic design was the same. A bright green caps with yellow braid was chosen for Wolf Cubs. The school cap was not only worn to school, but it was the principal cap boys wore where ever they went. Itwas worn after school for play or outings with parents to shops or church. School caps were alsi wirn for receational outings to parks or foe vacations. Interestingly while boys had virtually this one type of headwear, girls had quite a range of different styles. The peaked cap becme a kind of iconic symbol of British boys. They were done in many different colors at private schools, but less so at state schools which did not have uniforms. Older boys might wear various styles of flat caps. Women wire variius forms of the ubiquitos cloche hats, an iconic symbol of the 20s. Men wore both hats and caps. The choice was largely a social class matter. Upperanf middke0clas nen wore hats, bith biwelers and hanbegds. Straw boaters might be worn during the summer. Working-class nen commonly wore flat caps.

Figure 4.--These two boys, presumably brothers are wearing standard peaked school caps. They look to be on a family outing on a chily day rather than on the way to school. But like most boys at the time they wore their peaked caps. The younger boy does not look old enough for school. Notuice the youngerb boy here does not have a school badge on his cap.

The 1930s

The school cap continued to be standard wear for school age English boys (1930s). We even see boys wearing them that do not look like they have begun school (figure 4). They were dine in many different ciliors and styles. Most of the boys we see wearing headwear in the 1930s are wearing school caps, especially school age boys. They were not universal, but certainly weere very common. A very large portion of the 1930s images we have archived show the boys wearing these caps. Boys wore them to school nd afterwards as well. And boys commonly began raring them even before beginning school (figure 1). State schools did not have uniforms, but boys mostly wore these peaked caps to school. Blue caps were very common. Private schools had uniforms and here we see a wide range of colors. When they dressed up on Sunday for church they also wore these peaked caps.

The 1940s

The school cap was still standard headwear at the time of World War II (1939-45). Large numbers of boys reported for World War II evacuation weaing school caps.

The 1950s

School caps began going out of style, but were still wide worn (1950s). Boys no longer liked wearing them. Some schools had strict rules, especially private schools.

The 1970s

We see relatively few boys wearing school caps (1970s). aklthough Cubs continued wearing them. Headwear in general by this time wase declining in popularity.

The 1980s

Boys began wearing American baseball caps (1980s). We even see col miners wearing them.

Created: 2:15 PM 7/31/2013
Last updated: 1:07 AM 10/17/2018