English School Trousers: Long Pants/Trousers


Figure 1.-- Many private schools had rules as to when boys could begin wearing long pants. At most schools boys wanted to wear long pants, even in the Summer because they were judged more grown up. For some reason while short pants were often grey, long pants were commonly black.

Long trousers and knickers were mostly worn worn in the 19th century. The first long trousers worn by boys as part of skeleton suits for younger boys. After the first decade of the 19th century, an increasing number of boys wore long trousers to school. Long trousers were the most common type of trousers in the early 19th century. Some younger boys wore tunics to school, I'm not sure what kind of trousers thary wore with their tunics. English boys in the late 19th century wore both knocketrs and long trousers. After World War I, short pants became commonly worn bu boys in primary schools as well as younger secondary school boys. most prep school established uniforms with short pants and kneesocks. Public schools (private secondary schools) generally had long pants uniforms, but some had short pants, especially for the younger boys. Long pants began to be more commonly worn in the 1960s and especially the 1970s. Currently most boys wear long trousers to school, especially during the winter. Many private schools had rules as to when boys could begin wearing long pants. At most schools boys wanted to wear long pants, even in the Summer because they were judged more grown up. For some reason while short pants were often grey, long pants were commonly black.

Chronology

Long trousers and knickers were mostly worn worn in the 19th century. The first long trousers worn by boys as part of skeleton suits for younger boys. After the first decade of the 19th century, an increasing number of boys wore long trousers to school. Long trousers were the most common type of trousers in the early 19th century. Some younger boys wore tunics to school, I'm not sure what kind of trousers thary wore with their tunics. English boys in the late 19th century wore both knocketrs and long trousers. After World War I, short pants became commonly worn bu boys in primary schools as well as younger secondary school boys. most prep school established uniforms with short pants and kneesocks.

School Types

School uniform garments basically overlapped between state and private schools with private schools having more elaborate uniforms. State primary schools generally did not have uniforms until after World War II. Before the War most boys wore short trousers. After the War espeially by the 1960s many primary schools instituted uniforms, commonly requiring short pants. Long pants became more common by the 1980s, especially for the older boys. Public schools (private secondary schools) generally had long pants uniforms, but some had short pants, especially for the younger boys. Long pants began to be more commonly worn in the 1960s and especially the 1970s. Preparatory schools generally required boys to wear short pants, although this also began to change by the 1980s. Currently most boys wear long trousers to school, especially during the winter. Quite a few prep schools do cotinue to require short trousers, at least for the younger boys.

School Rules

Schools have had a range of rules about wearing long rather than short pants. This is especially true of the private schools which have tended to have more elabrate uniforms. Many private schools had rules as to when boys could begin wearing long pants. Normally this was done by age or form, but a few schools had height rules. Many grammar schools also had rukes about wearing shirt trousers, normally by form. Most of the schools switch to all long pants uniforms in the 1970s. There were also seasonal rules. Some schools had summer uniforms. Another matter was dressing up. Some schools had short pants uniforms for every day wear, but had the childer at least the older children wear long pants when dressing up for formal occassions.

Preferences

At most schools boys wanted to wear long pants, even in the Summer because they were judged more grown up. Boys often looked forward to when they could graduate to long trousers. Often this was made an option, but at most schools the boys chose long trousers.

Colors

While short pants were often grey, long pants by the 1980s were commonly black. A HBC leader provides some insight into this difference. "When I was at school, 1950s-60s, the long trousers were grey as well. Moreover the accepted shade was light by today's standards and too dark a pair of trousers attracted adverse comment and even disciplinary procedures. As flannel gave place to worsted, during the years which coincided with my time at school, so trousers and suits (at schools which did not have a separate blazer or sports jacket within the uniform) came up darker anyway. When flares first hit the scene in the late 1960s, they were part of a styling which included no pleats, a very tight seat indeed and a waistband right down on the hips (fine if you had the figure for it!). To asist the look of this new style, side pockets and back pocket were all removed and front pockets (with a horizontal opening on the seam immediately below the waistband) took their place. This was a most impractical development and conventional pockets, including a back pocket again, soon returned. However it was with these first flares that the jet black colour became fashionable (man-made fibres were particularly good for this, as they retained the intensity of the shade despite washing). As a result every schoolboy wanted his trousers black and, even where that was not permitted, very dark grey indeed became the norm - which parents appreciated because they were more serviceable."

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Created: 10:30 PM 5/12/2005
Last updated: 2:07 PM 5/13/2005