Figure 1.--

Most of our images of Soviet Young Pioneers date from the 1960s, but we still have relatively few images. The short pants become shorter. The pioneer uniform become a white shirt, dark blue shorts and white ankle socks. Some boys also wore white knee socks. The familiar Pioneer uniform appeared in 1968-1969. The complete Pioneer uniform for the boys included: - red pioneer keckerchief, - white shirt with the emblem on the sleeve in the form of pentagonal star with a bonfire flame; - dark blue short pants from the cloth of the similar to dzhinsovoy which were buttoned to the buttons along the sides. The girls wore dark blue skirt from the same material as the boys and white blouses with short sleeves cut the elbow. The boys had an orange-yellow belt with a brass buckle that had the image of the Pioneer logo (star against the background of bonfire). There was also [? - red sid ] cap . This was the formal Pioneer uniform for all members throughout the Soviet Union. Pioneer shirts and blouses for everyday wear could be blue. Pioneers also wore their red neckerchiefs ( galstuki) to school. A Russian reader tells us, "Children did not wear their Pioneer uniforms to school. They had a school uniform which should not be confused with the Pioneer uniform. School uniforms involved different garments. The red neckerchief identified the children as Pioneer members, but the rest of the Pioneer uniform was not worn. I read on HBU that the school uniform and the Pioneer uniform was the same. Again I repeat that this was not the case. The Pioneer uniform was as described here. Some Pioneer uniforms at the prestigious summer camps ("Artek", "Eaglet" and "Ocean") were destinct, often using different colors. These were, however, rare exceptions.

Trends

Most of our images of Soviet Young Pioneers date from the 1960s, but we still have relatively few images. The short pants become shorter. The pioneer uniform become a white shirt, dark blue shorts and white ankle socks. Some boys also wore white knee socks.

Lenningrad House of Models Designed Uniform (1964)

A Soviet fashion magazine in 1964 had an article which presented a new Young Pioneer Summer uniform for both boys and girls. It was created by the Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) House of Models. We do not know if this uniform was adopted by the Young Pioneers or to what extent it was actually worn by Soviet children.

New Uniform (1968-69)

A new uniform was approved at the end of the decade. The familiar Pioneer uniform appeared in 1968-1969. The complete Pioneer uniform for the boys included: - red pioneer keckerchief, - white shirt with the emblem on the sleeve in the form of pentagonal star with a bonfire flame; - dark blue short pants from the cloth of the similar to dzhinsovoy which were buttoned to the buttons along the sides. The official uniform was to be worn with white kneespcks, although not all the boys wore them. The girls wore dark blue skirt from the same material as the boys and white blouses with short sleeves cut the elbow. The girls uniform was also worn with white kneesocks and they very commonly wore them. The boys had an orange-yellow belt with a brass buckle that had the image of the Pioneer logo (star against the background of bonfire). There was also [? - red sid ] cap . This was the formal Pioneer uniform for all members throughout the Soviet Union. This entirely new uniform was introduced on the threshold of the 50th anniversary of the Pioneer organization in 1972. Apparently Pioneer leaders wanted the wanted the members to be smartly dressed in a new uniform by the time the 50th anniversary arrived. The new uniforms appeared in the stores and were widely available. They sold it both in the complete sets (shirt and shorts) or as separate items.

Conventions

Pioneer shirts and blouses for everyday wear could be blue. Pioneers also wore their red neckerchiefs ( galstuki) to school.

School Uniform

A Russian reader tells us, "Children did not wear their Pioneer uniforms to school. They had a school uniform which should not be confused with the Pioneer uniform. School uniforms involved different garments. The red neckerchief identified the children as Pioneer members, but the rest of the Pioneer uniform was not worn. I read on HBU that the school uniform and the Pioneer uniform was the same. Again I repeat that this was not the case. The Pioneer uniform was as described here.

Summer Camps

Some Pioneer uniforms at the prestigious summer camps ("Artek", "Eaglet" and "Ocean") were destinct, often using different colors. These were, however, rare exceptions.