School Uniform: Coats


Figure 1.--

An important part of the school uniform is the coat during the winter. The more formal overcoat coming down to knee level was generally chosen rather than shorter coats. Overcoats were more in keeping with the suits and blazers worn with ties. In countries like England where the weather is often cold or rainy, the overcoat was esenential. Most boys will remember the gaberdine overcoats they wore to school over their blazers. The most commom style had a wide belt. Other styles were also worn. The duffle coat was a popular informal style in England and widely worn in America. The longer style rain coat was particularly popular until the 1970s when shorter coats became more widely worn. Raincoats are now much less common haven been replaced by parkas. Some Japanese schools also have uniform coats, often blue.

Climate

An important part of the school uniform is the coat during the winter. These cpats are also important in countries where it rains a lot, like England, as some styles they can double for rain coats.

Style

The more formal overcoat coming down to knee level was generally chosen rather than shorter coats. Overcoats were more in keeping with the suits and blazers worn with ties.

Types

Reefer jackets

We believe that reefer jackets were worn to school in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, although perhaps notvas a uniform coat. These jackets were called reefer jackets owing to their naval origins. The nautical term "to reef" conotates reducing the area of the sail to catch the wind. Sailors wore heavy jackets when they had to go aloft to take in or let out the sails. It must have been a bitter cold experience in bad weather. While heavy, they were short so the sailors could better manuever in the rigging. At any rate the heavy jackets they wore became known as reefer jackets.

Duffle coat

The duffle coat was a popular informal style in England and widely worn in America. The duffle coat was popularized during World War II when it was adopted by the British Navy. It is a hooded coat made out of a course woolen fabric with destinctive hemp and wooden toggles for fastening. After the War it became a popular boys' coat. It was adopted by some English schools as part of their uniform. It was widely worn in the Netherlands and other European countries it was also widely worn in the United States, although has been less common since the 1980s.

Gaberdine coat

Many English boys recall the gaberdine overcoats they wore to school over their blazers. They came in both single and double breasted styles. The most commom style had a wide belt. There were various colors such as grey and blue. Some had checked linings. I'm unsure to what extent it was worn in other countries. There were slightly different styles for girls and boys. The girls' coats often had hoods.

Parkas

The parka has been worn as a boy's winter coat in both America and Brirain. We know less about the popularity in other countries.

Cloak or cape

We have most commonly noticed the cloak or cape being used in France for schoolwear by both boys and girls. Most commonly we have noted wool capes. The most popular color appears to have been blue with linings of various colors. A HBC reader tells us that the cloak was also worn in England, often as an alternative to the nore common gaberdine coat. The English cloak was commonly made in gaberdine, but there were also equivalents in melton or woolen cloth. These were also usually hooded, some hoods being permanently attached and no collar, others being permanently attached below a collar, and some being detachable. Some detachable hoods were associated with mandarin collars. Colours I remember were navy, grey, green, with again various hood and cloak linings. For example, navy with gold, royal blue, or crimson; grey with red, gold, green or blue; Green with gold. Generally I think these were restricted to girls although again I do recall some younger siblings wearing them, and even a few adults. The nicest cloaks were really quite elegant. [Clifford]

Rain coats

Children wore various types of unspecialized coats to school. This included both cold weather and rainy days. Primary-age children might have raincoats. Here we notice various styles. When I was a boys in the 40s and 50s we had black rubberized rain coats. Yellow ones appeared, I think, in the 1950s. Children might also use umbrellas, but this is niot always the best choice for younger boys.

Countries

Some coats were widely worn bu school boys in various countries.

America

At various times duffle coats, parkas and ski jackets have been popular in American schools. Boys wore shorter-length jackets rather than full-length coats. A exception here might be some private schools, but the great majority of boys wore jackets. When I was a boys in the 40s and 50s we had black rubberized rain coats. Yellow ones appeared, I think, in the 1950s.

England

In countries like England where the weather is often cold or rainy, the overcoat was esenential. Most boys will remember the gaberdine overcoats they wore to school over their blazers. The most commom style had a wide belt. Other styles were also worn. The duffle coat was a popular informal style in England and widely worn in America. The longer style rain coat was particularly popular until the 1970s when shorter coats became more widely worn. Raincoats are now much less common haven been replaced by parkas.

France

I do not know of any coat that is especially suited for French school boys. Some private schools had cloaks which were also called capes--usually dark blue. They were worn by both boys and girls. I am unsure as to why capes rather than coats were popular in France.

Japan

Some Japanese schools also have uniform coats, often blue. This varies, however, some schools woth uniform allow the children to wear whatever coats they may choose.

South Africa

A South African reader has provided us some information about the rainwear he wore in school as a boy.

Sources

Jane Clifford, email message July 17, 2002.






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Created: April 23, 2002
Last updated: 3:28 AM 3/30/2006