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Prep schools have varied greatly over time as to the formality of the uniform. Uniforms were once very formal. Pupils had a daunting list of uniform items. The Eton collar was widely worn until after World War I (1914-18). Through the 1950s most prep schools has rather extensive, formal uniforms. Ties were worn at virtually all schools. This began to shift in the 1960s. Quite a number of prep schools adopted more casual uniforms. Caps became less common. The major change was in the every day uniform. Boys mostly wore sweaters and shirts to class. Many schools required tiesm but this varied widely from school to school. Blazers were rarely worn during the day. Some schools began dropping the tie for everyday wear, but this varied widely from school to school. At the vast majority of schools the boys just wore their sweaters duting the school day. Noys at a few school did wear their blazers or suit jackets during the day, but this was not at all common. It was most prevalent at day schools as the boys wore their blazers to school in the morning. Some schools actually discouraged the boys from wearing their blazers during the school day, primarily so they did not getthem dirty. A few schools adopted a casual corduroy uniform with a kind of lumber jacket. Curiously this casual looking uniform was usually worn with a tie. Most of tge schools with a casual cord uniform still had a formal uniform for special occasions.
Prep schools have varied greatly over time as to the formality of the uniform. Uniforms were once very formal. Pupils had a daunting list of uniform items. The Eton collar was widely worn until after World War I (1914-18). We do not have a lot of information about everyday schoolwear at early schools. Asc far as we can tell, these formal uniforms including jackets and stiff Eton collars were often worn to lass.Through the 1950s most prep schools has rather extensive, formal uniforms.
After World War I, neckties worn with soft collars rapidly replaced Eton collars, Ties were worn at virtually all schools. The ties were done in the school colors and became rather a symbol of the school, giving rise to the term "Old School Tie". This only began to shift in the in the 1960s. Schools began to drop the requirement that boys wear ties during the school day. Other schools adopted open-neck polo-style shirts for the simmer term. Most schools continued to take a more formal approach. Many schools even by the 1980s, however, still required the boys to wear ties. This was especially true when traveling to and from school, but many schools required the boys wear ties even during the school day.
Quite a number of prep schools adopted more casual uniforms. Caps became less common. The major change was in the every day uniform. Boys mostly wore sweaters and shirts to class. A good example of typical classroom wear is the boy seen here (figure 1). Many schools required ties, but this varied widely from school to school. Blazers were rarely worn during the day. Some schools began dropping the tie for everyday wear, but this varied widely from school to school. At the vast majority of schools the boys just wore their sweaters duting the school day during the Fall and Winter terms and just their shorts during the Summer term. Another common everday garment was grey shirts. They do not show the dirt like the white shirts worn for more casual occassions. Some schools have other casual shirts, although casual shirts like polo shirts are not common.
While schools increasingly adopted a casual uniform for everyday classroom wear, they did not do away with a more formal uniform. The formal uniform was reserved forv specual occassions. This might include a special occassion at school. Ther might be a special guest or a ceremony of some kind planned. Thev boys always dressed up for going to church on Sunday.
Boys at a few school did wear their blazers or suit jackets during the day, but this was not at all common. It was most prevalent at day schools as the boys wore their blazers to school in the morning. Schools normally required bots to wear their blazers to and from school even when they were not worn duting the school day. Some schools even required caps. The idea was to present the best imsge for the school. At these schools there would normnally be some boys wearing their blazers and some just wearing sweaters. The schools left it up to the individual boy. Some schools adopted strict rules on the matter, but by the 1980s necer requiring blazers to be worn during the day. Some schools discouraged the boys from wearing their blazers during the school day, primarily so they did not get them dirty. Blazers can very easily be spoiled from constant use by sctive boys.
A few schools adopted a casual corduroy uniform with a kind of lumber jacket. Curiously this casual looking uniform was usually worn with a tie. I'm not sure whn this style of uniform first appeared. We noticed them at several schools in the 1980s. Curiously, most of the schools with a casual cord uniform still had a formal uniform for special occasions.
