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Headwear was the most diverse schoolwear item for both boys and girls. And this only increased when more girls began attending boarding schools. The first schools in England were for boys. This included the boarding schools. When private schools for girls were established (mid-19th century), the schools had to develop a program suited for their needs, or more accurately what was thought appropriate at the time. The girls' schools adopted the philosophy and much of the program of the boys' schools with some modifications. This included both sports and the uniform. Girls headwear is much more diverse than that worn by the boys. There is no one style worn by the girls that was as common as the peaked caps worn by the boys. We have noted berets, boaters, bretons, and rounded crown hats (felt anbd straw), but there were several other less common styles. Some of these we do know the proper name. We have no ideawhat to call the headwear the girls on the previous page are wearing (figure 1). The rounded crown hats were done in many different styles affecting the crown, brim, and hat nand. Each school wanted their own destinctive style.
Headwear was the most diverse schoolwear item for both boys and girls. And this only increased when more girls began attending boarding schools. The first schools in England were for boys. This included the boarding schools. When private schools for girls were established (mid-19th century), the schools had to develop a program suited for their needs, or more accurately what was thought appropriate at the time.
The girls' schools adopted the philosophy and much of the program of the boys' schools with some modifications. This included both sports and the uniform. But of couese the girls could not dress like boys. Girls were expected to wear skirts and dresses. Girls began wearing decidedly boysish items like ties and blazers, both strongly associated with the boys' public schools. There were of course differences as well. The two main differences were headwear and of course skirts rather than trousers.
We have noted several different types and styles of headwear girls to school. There is no one style worn by the girls that was as common as the peaked caps worn by the boys. The one boys' headwear style that proved popular for the girls was the boater. Soon we see more girls wearing boaters than boys. We see mostly hats and various versions of berets like tams. We see berets, boaters, bretons, and rounded crown hats (felt and straw), but there were several other less common styles. Some of these we do know the proper name. We have no idea what to call the headwear the girls on the previous page are wearing. Other wise rounded-crown hat with turned up brims were very popular. The rounded crown hats were done in many different styles affecting the crown, brim, and bat nand. Many schools wanted their own destinctive style. Boys in state and private schools commonly wore peaked caps. There were a range of other styles, but the peaked cap was the most common. We are less sure what headwear girls in state schools wore. All of this of course varied over time. This of course was especially true of boys who attemnded school over several centuries. Girls only beggan attending school regularly in the 19th century.
Boys school caps could be coloful as they often matched the blazers. Other headwear was mostly less colorful. This included the various headwear types worn by girls. The one exception was berets, but they were no nearly as common as the iconic boys school cap. And they were not as colofful.
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