Figure 1.--Here we see an unidentified boy wearing a back-buttoning school smock with a white collar. We believe the boy is probablu Italian and the photograph taken in the 19509s. |
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The original French school smock adopted in the 1870s was a standardized balack or dark blue garnment that buttoned in the back. We believe these were the first school smocks to be worn by European school children. France was a very important and influential country. HBC does not know who desisned this smock or the process by which it was adopted. Smocks eventually appeared in a wide varietty of colors, patterns, and styles. These have varied from country to country and overtime. The most common snmock for boys was paroabably the traditional French school smock, the solid color, back buttoning smock with sleeves that completely covered a boys clothes above his knees. There were, however, many other styles, patterns, and colors worn by boys in different colors over time.
The original French school smock adopted in the 1870s was a standardized balack or dark blue garnment that buttoned in the back.
We believe these were the first school smocks to be worn by European school children. France was a very important and influential country. HBC does not know who desisned this smock or the process by which it was adopted. Given the importance of the school smock as boyswear, such information would be very valuable to obtain. We can at this time only surmise as to why the characteristics of the original school smock was chosen The school smock evolved into garments of widely varied design worn in many colors and patterns.
Dark colors: Bright colors in the 1870s were not as commonly worn by children as is the case today. But surely the dark colors were chosen to obsure all the ink stains. Younger readers may not realize this, but until the 1950s, children had ink wells on their desks and worked with dip or fountain pens. Those of us who began school bbefore the ballpoint was intriduced and had desks with inkwells will understand why this was important. It doesn't take much imagination to relaize the messes that resulted.
Back buttoning: The use of backbuttoning designs was almost universal in early scool smocks. This may have neen due to the fact that the workman's smocks that the school smock evolved from was a back buttoning garment. Back buttoning smocks may have also been chosen so that it was easier for mother to dress younger children. HBC doubts this. The French officials who chose the design were ribably all men and are unlikely to have attached much importance to the convenience fiorvthe mother. A more likely factor was that the smock was designed to be worn all day at school and not taken off intil the boy returned home. The back buttoning style made it more difficult for the boy to take off or wear unbuttoned in a casual manner. However until we learn more about the process by swhich Fench educational authorities adopted the school smock, we will not be able to answer these questions.
There are several different stylistic elkenment associated with the school smock. The most important are color, fabric pattern, and design. We have begun to develop informatyion on all three of these elements. We notice cdifferences from country to country and over time. The most smocks worn in the early 20th century were the traditional French school smocks in black or dark blue, or less commonly grey. Many other colors, however, were worn, especially in other countries like Italy and Spain. Boys have worn a variety of patterns as school snocks. The nmost common were of course solid color smocks, but patterns wee also worn. Some smocks came in checked gingham patterns. This was probably the most common pattern, but there were others like stripped smocks. School children have worn smocks of a wide variety of designs. These styles varied by changing the basic elements of the smock. The most common smock for boys was paroabably the traditional French school smock, the solid color, back buttoning smock with sleeves that completely covered a boys clothes above the knees. There were other styles more like pinafores or aprons that didn't even have sleeves. Early smocks come with plain collars, or in many cases no collars at all. We also notice gender differences, although early smocjs were often similr for boys and girls.
The most smocks worn in the early 20th century were the traditional French school smocks in black or dark blue, or less commonly grey. Many other colors, however, were worn, especially in other countries like Italy and Spain. Currently smocks are less common and there is a great deal of diversity. Some schools often have different colors such as blue and pink for the boys and girls. In other instances the children all wear the same color such as white.
Boys have worn a variety of patterns as school snocks. The nmost common were of course solid color smocks, but patterns wee also worn. Some smocks came in checked gingham patterns. This was probably the most common pattern, but there were others like stripped smocks. Often a school did not insist on a certain pattern, but either just for the children to wear smocks. In other instances it was up to the parents to decide if a child should wear a smock. In these instances the choice of pattern, if any, was up to the parents.
School children have worn smocks of a wide variety of designs. These styles varied by changing the basic elements of the smock. The most common smock for boys was paroabably the traditional French school smock, the solid color, back buttoning smock with sleeves that completely covered a boys clothes above the knees. There were other styles more like pinafores or aprons that didn't even have sleeves. Early smocks come with plain collars, or in many cases no collars at all. After the turn of the century, smocks with white collars appeared--of varying sizes. Some smocks were worn with large bows. This was common in Italy as is still seen in Uruguay. I do not believe it was as common in France, but some French boys also wore bows with their smocks. Smocks come both in front, side, and back fitting styles. There were other styles more like pinafores or aprons that didn't even have sleeves. They do not appear to have been nearly as popular as the more traditional garmenrs which more fully protected a boys' clothes.
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