Eton School Uniforms


Figure 1.--Boys at Eton School are seen here in their school uniforms, including the stove pipe hats. The photograph was probably taken in the 1930s.

While Eton College did not conceive of the idea of school uniform in England, the uniform it introduced in large measure initiated the modern traditions of school uniforms in Britain. Eton College was one of the many British schools which introduced school uniforms in the mid-19th Century. The sober suit influenced the uniform adopted by other schools as well as the clothes of British boys of all classes. The resulting Eton suit, as it is now known, became an emensely popular fashion for school age boys both in Britain and America. It is apparently the only public school uniform that went on to become widely worn by boys--many of whom may never had heard of Eton College. The Eton suit and collar was widely worn by boys in the late 19th and early 20th Century. It is unclear to the author why it was the Eton suit, and not the uniforms at other public schools, that became such a standard of boyhood fashion. Perhaps it was the prestige of Eton College. Even other public schools adopted uniforms incorporating the destinctive Eton collar as well as other features of the Eton suit. Actually Eton School had two different uniforms. The uniform we now think of with the stiff white collar and short jacket was the junior uniform. Senior boys wore long jackets with tails. Boys when they reached 5 ft 4 in were allowed to wear the senior uniform. But this meant that shorter boys might have to wear the junior uniform even at 16 or 17. Finally in 19?? the school abolished the junior uniform and all boys now wear tails.

Eton College Schoolwear (15th-18th Centuries)

We have very little information about schoolwear at Eton college before the 19th century. I don't think there was an actual uniform, but we are not entirely sure about this. The schools with uniforms during this period were more the charity schools like the hospital schools. We do note a portrait of Arthur Atherly by Sir Thomas Lawrence in 1791. He was an older boy at the school about to finish. He wears a bright red coat and has long hair. We are not yet sure about the younger boys at the school.

Eton College and School Uniform (19th-20th Centuries)

While Eton College did not conceive of the idea of school uniform in England, the uniform it introduced in large measure initiated the modern traditions of school uniforms in Britain. Eton College was one of the many British schools which introduced school uniforms in the mid-19th Century. The sober suit influenced the uniform adopted by other schools as well as the clothes of British boys of all classes.

Eton Style

The resulting Eton suit, as it is now known, became an emensely popular fashion for school age boys both in Britain and America. While we do not yet have any images from the early-19th century. We do have some inmages from the mid-19th century. A good example is George Spebder Cabd??? wearing the junior uninform. (1866). His uniform is very similar, but not identical to the modern uniform. Note in particular that the coolar is rather small and does not look very stiff. The Eton uniform is apparently the only public school uniform that went on to become widely worn by boys--many of whom may never had heard of Eton College. The Eton suit and collar was widely worn by boys in the late 19th and early 20th Century. It is unclear to the author why it was the Eton suit, and not the uniforms at other public schools, that became such a standard of boyhood fashion. Perhaps it was the prestige of Eton College. Even other public schools adopted uniforms incorporating the destinctive Eton collar as well as other features of the Eton suit.

Different Uniforms

Actually Eton School had two different uniforms. The uniform we now think of with the stiff white collar and short jacket was the junior uniform. Senior boys wore long jackets with tails. Boys when they reached 5 ft 4 in were allowed to wear the senior uniform. But this meant that shorter boys might have to wear the junior uniform even at 16 or 17. Finally in 19?? the school abolished the junior uniform and all boys now wear tails.

Garment Items

The Eton School uniform included many different elements. These differing elements have changed over time. There was the formal stove-pipe hat, unique as school wear. There were also short starched Eton collars, ties, black jackets, vests, and long trousers. Some of these garments varied over time. There were also differences based on the age and seniority of the boy.


Figure 2.--A button hole is the term for a flower worn on the lapel for a special occassion. This 1930s photograph shows Eton boys buying flowers on June 4.

Button Holes

A button hole is the term for a flower worn on the lapel for a special occassion. The fourth of June at Eton, is one such occasion. The Fourth of June (which is seldom held on that exact day) is the big annual event at Eton and celebrates the birthday of George III--a British monarch that Americns in particular recall. The British have since institutionlized the date as the king or queen's birthday rather than celebrating the actual birthday of the ruling soverign. The Ton boys have worn black jackets and ties since 1820 in mourning for that long-reigning monarch.






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Created: August 12, 2001
Last updated: 5:37 AM 7/13/2012