Figure 1.--We had thought these fancy punapores and hair bows were a uniform item that ended in the Soviet era. A reader tells us that on special days Russian girls still wear these fancy outfits. This photograph was apparently taken in 2002.

We have very limited information on uniforms and schoolwear in modern Russia. Uniforms appear to have declined or disappeared in modern Russian schools and now jeans are common for both boys and girls. We have, however, few details at this time. A HBC reader, however, tells us that the fancy dress with white hairbows and pinafores has not entirely disappeared in post-Soviet Russia. Rather they are still worn in some areas, but only on special days. A HBC reader writes, "I have some images from Russian Federation,as regards the use of school uniforms in girls. Indeed you're right mentioning in the website that these days school uniforms are worn only during special occasions such as : 1 september the opening of school year throughout Russia (September 1) and the end of the school year (end of May). The girls also probably but I am not sure, wear fancy clothes during certain public/state holidays. There are areas of Russia where the fancy clothes are not just restricted to special day, It appears that the Soviet-style school uniforms are still worn on a DAILY BASIS in Transdniestr (autonomuos region within Republic of Moldova). Recent photos show that even the older schoolgirls (up to 9-10 th grade) wear the black dress with detachable white collar, white frilly pinafore, have their hair mostly in two ponytails or braids tied with big white hair bows or/and white ribbons, and some schoolgirls (more of the younger ones) also wear white tights or white knee-socks for the above-mentioned schooldays."

Created: 11:50 PM 9/13/2004
Last updated: 11:50 PM 9/13/2004