Figure 1.-- The boys at this Engkish preo\p school wore grey suits. Unlike many schools, they had the school crest on their suit jackets.

We notice English boys commonly wearing suits to school. Not all schools had uniforms although this became more common in the late-19th century--at least at private schools. Suits were especially common in state schools before and just after World War II. At this time, primary schools did not commonly require uniforms. At state primaries this was more of a dress code than a uniform. Boys until after World War II tended to dress formally, even boys in primary schools. This tended to vary as not all boys wore suits, even before World War II. The suits varied in style with the fashions of the day. Some boys wore blazers rather than suits with matching jacket and trousers. Colors varied, although we do not have a good fix on this because of the black and white photography oif the day. Short pants suits were common until the post-World War II period. This including both primary and secondary school. Most secondary schools had uniforms. We are not sure about the 19th century, but in the 20th century after World War I, these seem to be primarily blazers rather than suits. The situation in private schools is somewhat different as private schools usually required unifirms. Again we are not entirely sure about the 19th century. We mostly see blazers in the preparartory schools, although some had suits rather than blazers. A few had both with the blazers being worn for everyday and the suits for special occassions. The suits almost always were grey suits and were usually worn without the school crest. A few schools wore the crest in the suits, but not very many. The situarion at public (private secondary) schools was similar although boys tended to wear long pants, at least after the first few years.

State Schools

Suits were especially common in state schools before and just after World War II. At this time, primary schools did not commonly require uniforms. At state primaries this was more of a dress code than a uniform. Boys until after World War II tended to dress formally, even boys in primary schools. This tended to vary as not all boys wore suits, even before World War II. The suits varied in style with the fashions of the day. Some boys wore blazers rather than suits with matching jacket and trousers. Colors varied, although we do not have a good fix on this because of the black and white photography oif the day. Short pants suits were common until the post-World War II period. This including both primary and secondary school. Most secondary schools had uniforms. We are not sure about the 19th century, but in the 20th century after World War I, these seem to be primarily blazers rather than suits.

Private Schools

The situation in private schools is somewhat different as private schools usually required unifirms. Again we are not entirely sure about the 19th century. We mostly see blazers in the preparartory schools, although some had suits rather than blazers. A few had both with the blazers being worn for everyday and the suits for special occassions. The suits almost always were grey suits and were usually worn without the school crest. A few schools wore the crest in the suits, but not very many. The situarion at public (private secondary) schools was similar although boys tended to wear long pants, at least after the first few years. An English reader tells us, "Suits are still worn to year 10 in quite a lot of our Public (non state) schools. At my school in London we wore suits during the Autumn and Winter terms, but were allowed blazers in the summer. Some schools dispense with uniform for years 11-12 and allow 'smart' business suits. Boys and Girls consider it demeaning, these days, to wear school uniform when they are 17-18. Dark grey suits were worn by my grandchildren in their final years so it was sixth form 'uniform'!"