Figure 1.--This prep school boys wears the everyday school uniform of jumper and short trousers--in this case flannel shorts. Very few English schools still have flannel shorts. He is playing the popular schoolboy game "Battleships".

Flannel was widely used for school uniform until well afree Wprld War II (1939-45). Flannel was used for caps, blazers, and trousers, both long and short trousers. The first school shorts were grey flannels. Flannel shorts were commonly worn by English school boys until the 1950s when they began to be repalced by Terelyn shorts. Some schools continued to use flannel shorts into the 1980s, but only a relatively few. ere optional for winter wear, but often they were eventually allowed for summer wear as well.

Flannel Fabric

Flannel is a soft, slightly napped fabric made of wool or wool blends. It is used for trousers, jackets, shirts, underwear, and other garments. Cotton flannel is a lighter version napped on one side is commonly used for sleepwear and sheets. Flannel became a popular material for men's blazers and trousers in the late 19th Century. British school boys by the 1920s commonly dressed in flannel blazers and short pants. American boys would commonly have a blue blazer and grey slacks in there wardobe in the 1950s, younger boys might wear shorts instead of long pants with their blue blazers. Flannel pants declined in popularity in the 1950s as polyester belends that did not require ironing to keep a crease becanme increasingly popular.

Chronolgy

HBC does not yet have detailed chronological data.

Boys' Wear

Presumably flannel was worn by boys before being adapted for school uniforms, but HBC has not yet acquired details on this.

Adopted for School Uniform

HBC is not sure as to why flannel became so widely accepted for boys schoolwear.

Garments

The primary flannel garments worn as school uniform known to HBC are caps, blazers, and trousers.

Caps

School caps have traditional been made of flannel. One virtually every English boy wore a flannel school cap. They were made in a great variety of colors and patterns, although the basic design of the English peaked cap has remained unchanged. HBC does not know any other material used for caps, however, few schools now require caps.

Blazers

The English flannel school blazer came in a wide variety if colors. Unlike other school items which were cmmonly grey, the blazer could be a variety of bright colors.

Trousers

Both short and long trousers were made in flannel which was the most important fabric for the first half of the 20th century. Almost always school trousers, bith long and short, were various shades of grey. Some white flannels were used for cricket. This did not begin to change until the 1960s when Terrlyln worsted began to replace flannel.

Uniform Conventions

Seasonality

Flannel was made in light weights which were popular for summer wear. As far a HBC knows, however, English schools commonly selected one weight of flannel shorts and trousers which was worn year round.

Colors

The color of flannel depended on the garment. Flnannel caps and blazers could be many different colors. Trousers were, however, almost always various shades of grey.

Created: January 4, 2001
Last updated: Janyary 4, 2001