Figure 1.-- The boys at this school are all wearing identical Eton collrs. They are the classic Eton collar, which was a stiffly starched or celuloid material worn as a detachable collar to their shirt waists. All the Eton collars are the same size and perfetly starched. Botice the buttonaires that the boys are wearing. Image courtesy of the MD collection. |
Eton collars in the late 18th and early 20th century were very common at prep schools and for the younger boys at public (private secondary) schools. They were also commonly worn at state schools. The boys at this school are all wearing identical Eton collrs. They are the classic Eton collar, which was a stiffly starched or celuloid material worn as a detachable collar to their shirt waists. Even the boy in the window dressed in a smock wears an Eton collar. All the Eton collars are the same size and perfetly starched. They obviously had instructions to put on brand new collars. There was probably a prefect assigned to be the collar monitor. The boys at this school wore their Eton collars with neckties. There was a wide variation at British schools as to whether to wear a tie or other neckwear with Eton collars. The boys here allwear neck ties. The neck tie at the time was a relatively new form of neckwear. Interestingly the boys at the school do not seem to be very skilled at tieing their necktie knots.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1890s]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]