Figure 1.--Because of the dark clothing it is a little difficult what these boys in 1935-36 were wearing. Quite a number of them, including two of the older boys, wear dark smocks. We also see boys wearing sweaters and suit jackets. Sailor suits no longer seem common. Click on the image to learn more about the school.

Some images suggest that smock usage declined somewhat in the 1930s, but some show that smocks continued to be very common at some schools. At the rural primary school shown here, quite a number of the boys, including two of the older boys, wear dark smocks. We also see boys wearing sweaters and suit jackets (figure 1). Sailor suits no longer seem common. Our information is still too limited to make any firm judgements on overall patterns. The basic back buttoning smock continued to be the most common type for boys. Fashion magazines in the 30s show boys wearing patterened smocks suich as plaids. Actual photographs, however show boys weraing mostly the dark solid colored smocks seen here. We note both back and side buttoning smocks. A few boys wore their smocks woth outside belts, but from available image this was only a minority of the boys. There was of course no practical reasoin for wering a belt over a smock, only a fashion statement. Notavly the girls did not wear bdelts over their smocks. Increasing numbers of boys came to school in shirts and sweters, although suits were also quite common. Most boys wore short pants and kneesocks, often even in the winter.

Created: February 8, 2003
Last updated: February 8, 2003