Figure 1.--The boys at this London-area prep school wore plain solid-colored blue neckties. The boys at this school wore their ties all day long, even in the evening durin free time. |
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The school tie has become a very important aspect of school lore. The "old school tie" has become widely discussed my many writers, stressng the importance of attending prestigious schools. We noted considerable differences from school to school concerning ties. Many schools required the children to wear ties, not only to dress up but during the school day for classes. Quite a number of schools, but a decided minority did not require ties during the school day, but only when dressing up and with blazers or suit jackets. Many schools had more detailed rules about wearing ties. We noted a variety of ties. The nost commonon was diagonally striped ties in the school colors. We also noted many schools with solid color ties. A few schools had horizontally striped ties, a style that was more common in earlier year. There were also normlly special ties for prefects and or students who had won their school colors. Boys get so used to wearing ties that they often wear them without even loosening them in the evening. Some schools allow the boys to take their ties off after classes othrs do not. Coed schools that have ties as part of the uniform often require the girls as well as the boys to wear them.
The school tie done in the school's colors became a symbol of the school, probably because boys wore the same tie day after day for so many years. It became so important that it was even adopted at many firls schools. The school tie has become a very important aspect of school lore. The "old school tie" has become widely discussed my many writers, stressng the importance of attending prestigious schools. The term even entered the language which the meaning of ab old boys' network referring to business associations that graduates of the schools had with each other. The term is more associated with the public (independent secondary) schools than the prep dschools, because the older boys are more likely to remember their more mature friendshis as adults. The term is similar to the merican term "good ole' boys" but without the strong school associations.
Ties were very commonly worn at prep schools. We noted considerable differences, however, from school to school concerning when and where the ties were worn. Many schools required the children to wear ties, not only to dress up but during the school day for classes. Quite a number of schools, but a decided minority did not require ties during the school day, but only when dressing up and with blazers or suit jackets. At some schools the boys took off their ties after classes. At many schools, however, the ties were worn all day long, even after classes. At others many boys kept them on even when not required to do so. Many schools had more detailed rules about wearing ties. Rules could vary seasonally. Some schools allowed the boys to wear open collar shirts during the warm summer months.
The ties were done in the school colors. Normlly the colors were coordinated with caps, blazer, jumper trim, and the the tops of the kneesocks. Not all schools had trim on the jumpers are kneesocks with colored trim, but this was very commom, adding color to the normlly grey shirts, pants, and socks.
We noted a variety of ties. They were all of course neckties. We never saw a school with bowties which would have been seen as rather odd. I'm not sure as to just why. The most commonon neckties were diagonally striped ties in the school colors. Thus these were done in a wide range of different colors and combinations. We also noted many schools with solid color ties. Here the most common were blue and red. I don't recall seeing any different colors, but there probably were some. A few schools had horizontally striped ties, a style that was more common in earlier year. These were also done in different colors, but were not as nearly diverse as the diagonally stripped ties.
There were also normlly special ties for prefects and or students who had won their school colors.
British boys like boys in other European countries no longer wear ties like they used, even when dressing up. The one exception is school uniform. British boys, especially boys at boarding school become very used to wearing ties. Boys get so used to wearing ties that they often wear them without even loosening them in the evening. Some schools allow the boys to take their ties off after classes others do not. We often note boys wearing ties tightly pulled up to the neck right until they begin getting ready for bed. This is especially true of the younger boys. We do note some older boys who are looesing their ties by the end of the day. This is not, however, as common as one might think.
Ties are generally considered to be a a boys' garments. We note a l ot of girls wearing ties as part of their school uniforms. This appears to be reflection of the degree to which boys public schools influenced the program at girls' public schools. The public schools and prep schools subsequently strongly influenced the uniform standards at state schools. Coed schools that have ties as part of the uniform often require the girls as well as the boys to wear them.
