School Uniform: Different Kneesocks


Figure 1.--The boys at this Scottish prep school wore both plain grey and purple kneesocks to match their blazers. Later grey socks with purple stripes were introduced.

HBC has noted that boys at some schools wear a school uniform, but in some cases different types of socks. Some schools are quite strict that the proper kneesocks be worn. Other schools are less strict. Probably more flexibility is permitted with the kneesocks than any other uniform garment. Some schools will not strictly insist on socks with the proper colored bands so some boys have the bands and some have plain grey kneesocks. Some boys may have different colored bands, often a sign that they have changed schools. In a few cases boys wear different colored kneesocks. This could mean that the boys are wearing game socks or in a few cases the school is changing the type of socks. In this case for a year or two some boys wear the old styled socks and other the new style.

Actually the sock situation at schools can get quite complicated. At one Scottish school the uniform had always been plain purple wool socks worn with a purple blazer, but the headmaster decided to try nylon socks as opposed to woolen ones. It was an attempt to modernize the uniform. The result, howver, was an unpleasant outbreak of athlete's foot. The problem would have been solved by the simple expedient of going back to all-wool purple socks but, for whatever reason, he started allowing plain grey kneesocks. The result that we had a regrettable mix of colors for several years. A new head introduced grey socks with two purple stripes around the top, and from that point there were three different design of sock in everyday use, rather spoiling the overall effect of the uniform.








Christopher Wagner





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Created: July 3, 2001
Last updated: July 3, 2001