*** school uniform: knee sock country trends








School Uniform: Knee Socks--Country Trends

school knee socks country trends
Figure 1.--Knee socks were commonly worn in Scotland like England for school uniforms. Some of the Scottish schools, however, had brightly colored knee socks rather than grey as in England.

Knee socks have been worn as part of school uniforms in many different countries. HBC has noted knee sock trends in different countries. Knee socks were most widely worn in England and English school uniform fashions influence styles in many other coutries--primrily British Empire countries. Many of these countries had schools that did not require school uniforms. In these countries the schoolwear trends are similar to the overall clothing trends. The general trend has been from the era before World War II when almost all boys wore knee socks to after the war when knee socks became less and less common, at least for boys. They remin popular with the girls, perhaps because fahion is more imprtant fior girls or because many girls wear skirts and knee socks can help to keep legs warm. This overall trend, however, has varied widely from country to country. One important factor affecting the individual trend in each country has been climate. This is especilly true of knee socks as they are actually a seasonal cold weather garment. They can be worn year round in countries with temperate climates, but are not suitanke for countries with tropical or subtopicsal climates.

Australia

An Australian HBC contributor reports in the 1990s that prep school boys usually wear grey long socks and shorts. State elementary school boys mostly wear shorts with grey or white ankle socks. We do not have an Australian school kneesock page, but there is an Australian school hosiery page.

Belgium

Berlgian boys have generally followe French styles. Most boys went to schools that did not require uniforms. Some private cathloic schools had uniforms with blue short pants an white kneesovks.

England

Almost all English schools adopted grey kneesocks. HBC knows of one public school that had tan kneesocks, but virtually all other schools had grey kneesocks. Private schools commonly had turn-over-top socks with colored tops or bands. Boys at state schools more often had wore plain grey kneesocks, usually with out turn-over-tops. Kneesocks swere commonly worn in both the cooler winter months as swell as the warmer summer months.

France

French boys did not wear kneesocks as commonly as English boys. After the 1930s, kneesocks were mostly worn in cooler weather. Some catholic schools required white kneesocks, but grey kneesocks were more common. Except for a few mostly Catholic schools, there were no required school uniforms.

Italy

As with many other areas of HBC, we have not yet aquire etails on Itlalian styles and conventions. We are hoping that an Italian reader will provide some information.

Germany

HBC has little information on German kneesocks at this time. We have noted some boys wearing white kneesocks. Often they were not worn as a school uniform, but were worn by boys to school.

Japan

Many Japanese the elementary schoolboys once worn kneesocks. This appears to be much less common as many boys now wear ankle socks, even during the winter. The schools are uncharacteristically lack about this. Most schools with uniforms were not strict about the socks worn, but others were quite strict. The most common color is white kneesocks, but blue are also common and grey are sometimes worn. Other colors are not common. Kneesocks were once commonly worn by Japanese school boys, even schools not requiring uniforms. Most knee socks are not the turnover type worn in England and New Zealand.

New Zealand

The kneesocks worn by New Zelan boys appear to have followed the styles an conventions noted in Britain. The only exception to this was that severalmschools adopted dark blue or black kneesocks, especially when worn with blue shorts. Grey kneesocks were the most common, but the blue or black kneesocks were more common than in Britain. Another difference is that the oler boys at many secondary schools were allowed to wear light blue kneesocks with walk shorts rather than the regular school uniform worn by the other boys. We do not have a New Zealand school kneesock page, but there is an New Zealand school hosiery page.

Scotland

Boys normally wore kneesocks with their school uniforms. As in Ebgland, grey kneesocks werer the most common. Many private schools adopted colored kneesocks, including bright shades of red and blue. It was particularly common to wear colored kneesocks for games, but they were also orn with the school uniform. Some schools had one color for the choolmuniform and another color for games. Boys at state schools more commonly wore grey kneesocks.

South Africa

South Africa is another country that has been significantly influence by English school uniform styles. Khaki short pants and kneesocks were especially popular in South Africa. We are not sure just why that is. Many schools have uniforms with khaki shorts and kneesocks, in some cases wearing them with blazers.

United States

American state schools did not require school uniforms. Boys commonly wore knickers with kneesocks in the 1920s and 30s, but less commonly with short pants. The kneesocks worn were generally patterned. A few private schools required uniforms, generally on the British model. Some schools required black suits and kneesocks rather than the grey suits and kneesocks more common in England.








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Created: 9:13 PM 10/13/2005
Last updated: 3:10 PM 8/6/2022