Figure 1.--This school has casual looking corduroy uniforms for every day wear. The uniform consisted of matching lumber jackets and shorts. While a casual look, the boys wore the uniform with ties. They had blazers for formal occassions. |
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Prep schools have varied greatly over time as to the formality of the uniform. Uniforms were once very formal. The Eton collar was widely worn until after World War I (1914-18). Through the 1950s most prep schools has rather extensive, formal uniforms. Ties were worn at virtually all schools. This began to shift in the 1960s. Quite a bnumber of prep schools adopted more casual uniforms. Caps became less common. The major change was in the every day uniform. Boys mostly wore sweaters and shirts to class. Blazers were rarely worn during the day. Some schools began dropping the tie for everyday wear, but this varied from school to school. A few schools adopted a more casual corduroy uniform, but even these schools usually required a tie. Many of these schools also had suits or blazers for formal occasions. Day boys normally wear their blazers to school, but during the day at most schools boys hang up their blazers and just wear their sweaters in the classroom. Some schools insist the boys wear ties. At other schools the boys are allowed to take off their ties. Some schools had seasonal rules.
Prep schools have varied greatly over time as to the formality of the uniform. Uniforms were once very formal. The Eton collar was widely worn until after World War I (1914-18). Through the 1950s most prep schools has rather extensive, formal uniforms. Ties were worn at virtually all schools. This began to shift in the 1960s. Quite a bnumber of prep schools adopted more casual uniforms. Caps became less common.
The major change was in the every day uniform. Boys mostly wore sweaters and shirts tib class. Blazers were rarely worn during the day. Some schools began dropping the tie for everyday wear, but this varied from school to school. A few schools adopted a more casual corduroy uniform, but even these schools usually required a tie. Day boys normally wear their blazers to school, but during the day at most schools boys hang up their blazers and just wear their sweaters in the classroom. Some schools insist the boys wear ties. At other schools the boys are allowed to take off their ties. Some schools had seasonal rules.
Many of these schools also had suits or blazers for formal occasions. More commonly these uniforms were worn when coming and going to school. Baorders may only put on their occassions for Sunday or sopecial occassions.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer
[School sandals
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