Figure 1.-- This CDV portrait shows boy attending a Brighton public school. Note his short jacket which does not match hos trousers. The jacket is cut away somewhat, but is not the standrd cut-away jacket without lapels often worn by younger was boys. The studio was Lock and Whitfield in Brighton. We believe the porteait wa tken in the 1869s, but the early-70s is possible.

English boys have worn a variety of suits to school. This included both different kinds of jackets and trousers as well as vests. We notice cut-away jackets without lapels worn by younger boys in the mid-19th century. Older boys also wore short jacket, bit without the cut-sawy styling and with laopels. Older boys wore single-breasted suits for school. We rarely see boys wearing double-breasted jackets for school. This included both boys at state schools and private schools, although we do not see state-funded chools untul the secind half of the 10th century. State chools fid not require uniforms. I think this was because single-breasted suits or blazers were worn at private scgools and the tradition caried over for state schools. We note Norfolk suits being worn at schools during the late-19th century. Even better known are the Eton suits which appeared in the early-19th century, but seem most common in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. In the 20th century, especially after World War I we see mostly standard single-breasted suits. Grey suits became almost universal when suits were selected for the school uniform. Vested suits were very common in the 19th century, but were generally dispebsed with in the 20th century. Long pants suits were usually worn in the 19th century, although wse see many knickers suits in the late-19th century. We are less sure at state schools, but knee pants suits seem common at primary schools. Some boys may have worn knicker suits. After the turn-of-the 20th century, knee pants gradually gave way to short pants suits. Short pants suits became common, although many schools had uniforms with blazers raher than suits. This becane a standard at the state secondary schools that were greatly expahded after World war II. A few private schools had blazers for everyday wear abd suits for special occassions.

Jackets

English boys have worn several different types of suits. The type of suit normally comes from the type of coat or jcket. We notice cut-away jackets without lapels worn by younger boys in the mid-19th century. Older boys also wore short jacket, but without the cut-away styling and with lapels. The boy here is a good example (figure 1). The most famous suit type is the Eton suit. Here there were differences from school to school. This was a short jacket, but with lapels, but not notably cut away. Older boys wore single-breasted suits for school. We rarely see boys wearing double-breasted jackets for school. This included both boys at state schools and private schools, although we do not see state-funded chools until the second half of the 19th century. State chools fid not require uniforms. I think this was because single-breasted suits or blazers were worn at private scgools and the tradition caried over for state schools. We note Norfolk suits being worn at schools during the late-19th century. Even better known are the Eton suits which appeared in the early-19th century, but seem most common in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Blazers appeaared in the mid-19th century, but were at first sports wear. In the 20th century, especially after World War I we see mostly standard single-breasted suits. Grey suits became almost universal when suits were selected for the school uniform. Many schools in the 20th century had uniforms with blazers raher than suits. This becane a standard at the state secondary schools that were greatly expahded after World War II. A few private schools had blazers for everyday wear abd suits for special occassions.

Vested Suit

Vested suits sometmes called three-piece suits were very common in the 19th century. This basically follows contemporary fashions. Here we see a boy wearing a school uniform with a vest, we think in the 1860s (figure 1). Vests at school were always worn as part of suits and never instead of a jacket. The vests were generally dispensed with in the 20th century. Especially after World War I we see few boys wearing vests as part of a school uniform.

Trousers

Long pants suits were usually wirn in the 19th century. As far as we know, ling opants were almost universal in the firt half of rge century. The boy here in the 1869s is good example (figure 1). We see many knickers suits in the late-19th century, beginning we think in the late-1870s. We are less sure at state schools, but knee pants suits seem common at primary schools until after Woeld war I (1914-18). Some boys may have worn knicker suits. After the War, knee pants rapidly gave way to short pants suits. Most boys wore short trouser suits. Suits in gneral became common in the second half of the 20th century. Many boys continued to wear short pants to school even after short pants suits became kess common after the 1959s. Schools often mandated shorts as part of the school unifirm. Long pants became increasing common in the 1970s. .