Figure 1.--This boy attended the Clare House Preparatory School un 1962. He wears the classic prep school uniform of cap, blazer, tie, grey short pants, kneesocks, and school sandals. Click on the image to see the school crest. |
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Many prep schools were established in the late 19th Century just as uniforms were becoming established and many new public schools were being opened. Like the public school, the preparatory school had a dautingly long list for the boys school kit. The games (sports) items could be especially involved. But also people in the late 19th and early 20th century dressed up much more than is the case today. Many prep schools were quite strict about the uniform and how it was worn. The standard prep school uniform in the mid-20th century included a cap, blazer, tie, jumper (sweater), grey or white long-sleeved shirt, grey short trousers, kneesocks, and school sandals. Headmasters often viewed the boys as walking advertisements for the school and insisted that the boys wear the uniform correctly. Different headmasters had different ideas on this. One contastant refrain at many schools was "Pull your socks up, boy". The kneesocks the boys wore had the constant tendency to fall down to their ankles. The uniform has been significantly simplified at the modern prep school, but it is still given substantial emphasis at many schools. The uniform has been significantly simplified at the modern prep school, but it is still given substantial emphasis at many schools.
Many prep schools were established in the late 19th Century just as uniforms were becoming established and many new public schools were being opened. Like the public school, the preparatory school had a dautingly long list for the boys school kit. The games (sports) items could be especially involved. But also people in the late 19th and early 20th century dressed up much more than is the case today. Many prep schools were quite strict about the uniform and how it was worn. The standard prep school uniform in the mid-20th century included a cap, blazer, tie, jumper (sweater), grey or white long-sleeved shirt, grey short trousers, kneesocks, and school sandals.
Virtually all prepratory schools require uniforms. Most early prep schools in the 19th century did not have uniforms. We have seen several ptep schools in the early 20th century that did not have uniforms. After the turn of the 20th century, however, the trend at most prep schools was to adopt uniforms. The number of prep schools without uniforms dropped sharplu in the 1910s. Virtually all prepschools by the 1920s had uniforms. There are currently a few that do not, but the number is extrmely small.
Prep schools have varied greatly over time as to the formality of the uniform. Uniforms were once very formal. The Eton collar was widely worn until after World War I (1914-18). Through the 1950s most prep schools has rather extensive, formal uniforms. Ties were worn at virtually all schools. This began to shift in the 1960s. Quite a bnumber of prep schools adopted more casual uniforms. Caps became less common. The major change was in the every day uniform. Boys mostly wore sweaters and shirts tib class. Blazers were rarely worn during the day. Some schools began dropping the tie for everyday wear, but this varied from school to school. A few schools adopted a more casual corduroy uniform, but even these schools usually required a tie.
Headmasters often viewed the boys as walking advertisements for the school and insisted that the boys wear the uniform correctly. Different headmasters had different ideas on this. One contastant refrain at many schools was "Pull your socks up, boy". The kneesocks the boys wore had the constant tendency to fall down to their ankles.
Some of the basic garments commonly worn at prep schools have included peaked caps, blazers, white abnd grey shirts, sweaters, short pants, kneesovks and school sandals. Many other garnents have been worn. Several scghools adopted corduroy uniforms. The popularity of these and other uniform garments has varied substantially over time. Eton collars were once de regure, but largely disappeared in the 1920s. Caps were once worn by nearly all boys, but are now worn at only a few schools. Most boys once wore short pants, but long pants are now more common, especially for the older boys.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer
[School sandals
