Figure 1.--English schools have had a major impact on school uniforms around the world. Many of the popular school uniform styles worn in many countries have evolved from styles originally worn in English schools.

One of the first materials associated with school uniforms was flannel. It was used in England for school caps, blazers, and trousers. Flannel was used for both short and long trousers. Grey flannel was especially common for school trousers. I'm not precisely sure why this was. Perhaps because it was a good color for not showing dirt as well as going well with different color blazers. After World War II Terrelyn in Britain became very popular for school trousers, primarily because it did not need to to be iron and still kept a crease. One material that was not acceptable for school was denim. This was not just in Britain where uniforms were worn. American boys commonly wore denim overalls to primary schools in rural areas. Denim was not allowed in secondary schools. Most students until after World War II did not want to wear them. After the War, however, when jeans became popular, students did want to wear them to school, but dress codes untill the 1970s prohibited them. As an indication of how times change, there are now schools that have denim uniforms.

Corduroy

Corduroy in part because of its hard-wearing characteristics has been popular as schoolwear in several countries. American boys commonly wore corduroy knickers to school in the 1920s and 30s. Corduroy was probably the most common school fabric. Corduroy OP shorts were popular in the 1970s. Corduroy was also worn in Britain. We note British boys wearing cord lumber jackets as part if school uniforms. In England corduroy shorts were popular after World War I. They were made in different colors. Gray was the bost common for school, but blue cord shorts were worn at a few schools, The school here had a uniform using a tan color (figure 1). British boys have worn both long cord pants and short cord pants to school. Cord shorts were also worn in Scotland. To our knowledge British boys did not wear cord knickers. We note boys at some French Catholic schools wearing blue cord shorts after World war II.

Denim

One material that was not acceptable for school was denim. This was not just in Britain where uniforms were worn. American boys commonly wore denim overalls to primary schools in rural areas. Denim was not allowed in secondary schools. Most students until after World War II did not want to wear denim overalls. It was seen as a sign of pverty, except in rural schools where many of the children wore them. Much more common for school was cotduroy. them. After the War, however, when jeans became popular, students did want to wear them to school. They were allowed at many elementary (primary) schools. An English reader writes, "As I've told you before, denim was a definate no no in England for schoolwear - although some boys did try to wear black jeans. At my younger brother's comprehensive school (they had a uniform but it was not as strict as at my school). He was there from 1973-1981. The proper uniform trousers were black - but jeans weren't officially allowed and my mum wouldn't have let him have them anyway. After we moved he went to a non-uniform primary school so had been wearing jeans or jean shorts there so it was more of a pain for him to have to wear a uniform to secondary school than it was for me and my older brother." Dress codes at American untill the 1970s prohibited jeans at secondary schools. As an indication of how times change, there are now schools that have denim uniforms.

Flannel

One of the first materials associated with school uniforms was flannel. It was used in England for school caps, blazers, and trousers. Flannel was used for both short and long trousers. Grey flannel was especially common for school trousers. I'm not precisely sure why this was. Perhaps because it was a good color for not showing dirt as well as going well with different color blazers.

Terrelyn

After World War II Terrelyn in Britain became very popular for school trousers, primarily because it did not need to to be iron and still kept a crease.

Created: April 30, 2004
Last updated: 3:54 AM 5/5/2005