Figure 1.--This boy wears an everyday uniform that became standard at many prep schools. Boys at most schools rarely wear their blazers during the school year. |
|
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. 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. Schools differed as policies toward the boarders after classes. Some schools insisted that the boys continue wearing their uniforms after classess in the afternoon and evening. This often included the tie. A few schools allowed the children to change into their own clothes after classes and games in the afternoon. At some of these schools there were restrictions as to what kind of clothes could be worn.
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. Some schools insist the boys wear ties. At other schools the boys are allowed to take off their ties. Some schools had seasonal rules. A coomon uniform at many schools is seen here, grey sweater and shirt, tie, grey short pants, and grey kneesocks. There were some variations. Quite a number of schools had sweaters and jneesocks with colored trim. Many schools had long pants. Sandals were common at many prepschools.
Schools differed as policies toward the boarders after classes. Some schools insisted that the boys continue wearing their uniforms after classess in the afternoon and evening. This often included the tie. A few schools allowed the children to change into their own clothes after classes and games in the afternoon. At some of these schools there were restrictions as to what kind of clothes could be worn.
The uniform for day boys was a little different in that the day boys were usually required to wear the complete uniform when coming to school. Day boys thus 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. This was done in part so the blazers did not get dirty and worn. The same was true of the caps for the schools still requiring them Thus once at school the day boys and boarders for classess were dressed just the same.
An American reader writes, "Does the roll on the top of the knee socks mean that there are probably round garters holding them up?" Here we are not entirely sure. Boys at prep schools wore two types of knee-length hosiery. One was the longer more expensive turn-over-top socks. These were long enough to cuff and thus garters could be used. Often the kneesocks with colored bands at the top were this type. Other boys wore plain grey kneesocks which just came to the knee without an extra length to cuff or turn over. These were elasticized to some extent to help keep them up. These socks were popular with mothers because they were substantially cheaper than the turn-over-top socks. As there was no cuff at the top, garters could not be used. It is not real clear to us why this boy has
rolled his socks slightly. It could be because he is using a garter, we are not sure. Notably is socks do not come to knee length. Perhaps our British readers may understand this image better.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Main English Prep School Uniform Formality Page]
[Australia]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[New Zealand]
[Scotland]
[United States]
