School Uniform: Sleepwear



Figure 1.--

We do not have a great deal of information about sleepwear at this time. This would only concern boarding school and thus affect on a relatively small proportion of school children. we know that some schools did have rules about schoolwear. Sleepwear and robes are mentioned in many school clothing lists. Many schools, at least modern schools, have a fairly relaxed approach to sleep wear. This includes schools that have required school uniforms. Schools ofen required boys to have bath robes for use at night after changing into sleepwear. Sleepwear itself was mostly night shirts in the 19th century. This changed in the early/mid-20th century to pajamas. Older boys might wear underwear rather than pajamas. Here most schools now let the students decide for themselves.

Garments

Schools often required boys to have bath robes for use at night after changing into sleepwear. Sleepwear itself was mostly nightshirts in the 19th century. This changed in the early/mid-20th century to pajamas. Older boys might wear underwear rather than pajamas. A British reader tells us, "All boys are expected to have dressing gowns (few call them bath robes in the UK). These are usually worn going to and from showers/baths, after getting ready for bed on an evening and during fire evacuation tests. There is no direction given as to style etc and a vast range of fabrics, patterns and colours are used."

School Type

This would only concern boarding school and thus affect on a relatively small proportion of school children. we know that some schools did have rules about schoolwear. Sleepwear and robes are mentioned in many school clothing lists. Here age was a factor. At leat in the late 20th century the schools generally let boys in secondary schools do as they want, within limits. Schools for younger boys such as British prep schools were more likrly to have rules as the younger boys were more compliant.

Chronology

Many schools, at least modern schools, have a fairly relaxed approach to sleep wear. This includes schools that have required school uniforms. Here most schools now let the students decide for themselves.

Countries

We do not have much country information yet. We have information on only a few countries. And as bedtime was less photographed than other sapects of the school day, the pg\hotographic record does not add a lot of information to the little that we know. A Belgian reader tells us that he wore nightshirts at his boarding school in the 1960s. Most of our information comes from Britain which had more boarding schools than other European countries. As far as we know, conventions were similar throughout Britain.






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Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
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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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Created: 11:18 PM 4/6/2007
Last updated: 11:18 PM 4/6/2007