Figure 1.--We mostly see English boys wearing long-sleeve shirts. The grey long-sleeve shirts the boys here wear are good examples. While one boy is wearing a sweater, we can assume that he is also wearing a long-sleeve shirt.

English school boys have mostly worn long sleeve shirts. This did not change until the late-20th century. It is relatively easy to assess shirt collars because they s giw over jackets, vests, and sweaters. The other elements are less vissible in the photographic record, especially in the 19th century when boys did not commonly wear or even less commonly have their portrait taken in just a shirt without jackets and vests. It is sometimes possible to see something of the sleeves because the cuffs might show. All shirts had long-sleeves in the 19th century. Girls had dresses with short sleeves, but boys' shirts for some reason all had long sleeves. And we mostly see long-sleeve shirts in the 20th century. Again it is difficult to tell becuse so many boys wore jackets or sweaters. Of course it is likely that the shirts worn with jackets and sweaters are long-sleeve shirts. This began to change in the 20th century, but only after the mid-20th century. We do not see boys wearing short-sleeved shirts at school until the late-20th century. Even then we mostly see long sleves. We note both short-sleeved shirts and more casual styles like polo shirts. This did not change until the late-20th century. It is relatively easy to assess shirt collars because they show over jackets, vests, and sweaters. The other elements are less vissible in the photographic record, especially in the 19th century when boys did not commonly wear or even less commonly have their portrait taken in just a shirt without jackets and vests. It is sometimes possible to see something of the sleeves because the cuffs might show. All shirts had long-sleeves in the 19th century. Girls had dresses with short sleeves, but boys' shirts for some reason all had long sleeves. And we mostly see long-sleeve shirts in the 20th century. Again it is difficult to tell becuse so many boys wore jackets or sweaters. Of course it is likely that the shirts worn with jackets and sweaters are long-sleeve shirts. This began to change in the 20th century, but only after the mid-20th century. We do not see boys wearing short-sleeved shirts at school until the late-20th century. Even then we mostly see long sleves. We note both short-sleeved shirts and more casual styles like polo shirts.

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Created: 1:32 AM 12/5/2017
Last updated: 1:32 AM 12/5/2017