Figure 1.-- These unidentified Liverpool brothers wear identical cut-away jacket suits. This was not a school uniform. he fact that the one boy holds a book suggests the boys may have worn these suits to school. The portrait by VanDyke and Brown is undated, but was probably taken in the early 1870s.

English boys commonly wore suits to school. Suit styles varied over time. English boys commonly wore suits to school in the 19th century. The suits followed the basic suit styles popular at the time. This included both school uniforms and regular suits worn at schools. We do not have much information on the early-19th century. We know that uniforms existed at some schools like Eton which had especially designed suits. Not all private schools, however, had required uniforms. And the state system was still very limited in England, let alone requiring uniforms. Thanks to photography we know much more about the mid-19th century and a great deal about later periods. We see boys at mid-century wearing cut-away jsackets, commonly with vests (waistcoats). Therse seem to be suits worn to school more than school uniforms. School uniforms at private schools became increasingly common in the late-19th century. We see mostly single-breasted suits. Norfolk styling was popular in the late-19th century. The boys wore knee pants, knickers, and long pants. Suits became more standardized in the 20th century. They were common at both state an prisate schools, although many boys wore blazers rather than suits. Some schools had both blazers and suits. Blazers were the everyday outfit and the syuits were worn for special occassions. Short pants became vert common, especially after World War I, mostly worn with knee socks. After World War II, school wear became more casual, especially at primary school. Long pants began to be mnore common in the 1960s. Privare schools continued to require blazers or sits. And state secondary contnued to require formal dress, commonly black blazers. Not very many state schools required suits.

The 19th Century

English boys commonly wore suits to school. Suit styles varied over time. English boys commonly wore suits to school in the 19th century. The suits followed the basic suit styles popular at the time. This included both school uniforms and regular suits worn at schools. We do not have much information on the early-19th century. We know that uniforms existed at some schools like Eton which had especially designed suits. Not all private schools, however, had required uniforms. And the state system was still very limited in England, let alone requiring uniforms. Thanks to photography we know much more about the mid-19th century and a great deal about later periods. We see boys at mid-century wearing cut-away jsackets, commonly with vests (waistcoats). Therse seem to be suits worn to school more than school uniforms. School uniforms at private schools became increasingly common in the late-19th century. We see mostly single-breasted suits. Norfolk styling was popular in the late-19th century. The boys wore knee pants, knickers, and long pants.

The 20th Century

School suits became more standardized in the 20th century. They were common at both state an prisate schools, although many boys wore blazers rather than suits. Some schools had both blazers and suits. Blazers were the everyday outfit and the syuits were worn for special occassions. Short pants became vert common, especially after World War I, mostly worn with knee socks. After World War II, school wear became more casual, especially at primary school. Long pants began to be mnore common in the 1960s. Privare schools continued to require blazers or sits. And state secondary contnued to require formal dress, commonly black blazers. Not very many state schools required suits.