Figure 1.--Most prep schools with short trouser uniforms used grey Terelyn shorts with various stylistic variations. Quite a number of schools had uniforms with corduroy shorts in grey or a number of other colors. |
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Most British prep school boys boys since World War I wore short trousers. Usually this was grey shorts, but a few schools had a uniform of blue shorts or some other color. This was, however not very common. The shorts were at first flannel, but by the 1960s Terrelyn became more common as less ironing was required. We noticed very few schools in the 1980s that still had flannel shorts. Several schools had uniforms with cord shorts, especially as the every-day working uniform. These cord shorts were done in various colors, but grey was by far the most common. The popularity of school shorts began to change in the 1970s as fewer British boys wore shorts, especially during the Winter. Most schools required shorts all year round, even in the cold Winter weather. Several schools in the 1980s began introducing more seasonally based uniforms. School shorts were done in a variety of stylistic variations, primarily involving the closing and waistband.
Most British prep school boys boys since World War I wore short trousers. Before the War we see a variety of outfits with boys different kinds of trousers. After the War, short trousers at prep school became almost universal and were part of the required uniform. Thy were almost always worn with knee socks or turn-over-top socks as the British might call them. The popularity of school trousers began to change in the 1960s. Fewer British boys were wearing shorts, especially during the Winter. We see many more boys wearing long trousers by the 1970s. The uniforms at prep schools tended to lag overall fashion trends so you still see many prep school boys wearing shorts in the 1970s, although many schools began changing the uniform rules. By the 1980s some schools had made the type of trousers optional or chnged the uniform to long trousers. This vried greatly from school to school. Some schools allowed prefects or older boys to wear long trousers. The precise rule and age varied from school to school. A few schools still insisted on shorts for all the boys. Some schools had shorts as an everyday uniform, but allowed some or all of the boys to wear long trousers for the dress up uniform..
Usually British boys wore grey shorts of varying shades. Stangely while both grey and black long trousers were very common in Britain, we did not notice schools with uniforms of black short trousers. Grey was by far the dominany color for school shorts. A few schools had a uniform of blue shorts or some other color. This was, however not very common. The great mjority of British school shorts, both at prep schools and other school were done in grey. Grey had the advantage that it did not shoe dirt like some other colors. It is rather a drab color, but worked well with brightly colored blazers. Grey shorts were so commonly worn for school that Wolf Cubs adopted them so boys would not have to buy a special pair of trousers for Cubbing.
The shorts were at first flannel, but by the 1960s Terrelyn became more common as less ironing was required. We noticed very few schools in the 1980s that still had flannel shorts. Terelyn worsted was by far the most common material. The Terelyn shorts became very popular as they retained sharp creases without constant ironing. Several schools had uniforms with cord shorts, especially as the every-day working uniform. These cord shorts were done in various colors, but grey was by far the most common. The popularity of school shorts began to change in the 1970s as fewer British boys wore shorts, especially during the Winter.
Most schools required shorts all year round, even in the cold Winter weather. Several schools in the 1980s began introducing more seasonally based uniforms. A few schools had different shorts. One school had flannel shorts in the winter and cotton shorts in the summer. A few schools also changed to long trousers in the Winter, but this also was not very common. Most schools either had age or form rules about short and long trouusers. This was, however, not very common. More commonly there were seasonal chnges with other garments such as hosiery. Many schools changed from kneesocks to short socks.
School shorts normally came with two front pockets, but no back pockets. Boys did not normally carry wallets. All school shorts by the 1970s were made with zipper flys. Earlier they were done with button flys.
School shorts were done in a variety of stylistic variations, primarily involving the closing and waistband.
Various schools had different rules about trousers. Almost all of the prep schools had required uniforms. At some schools there was a mix of short and long trousers. At some schools all the boys wore long trousers. At other schools all the boys wore short trousers. At most schools both short and long trousers were worn. Here the rules varied. At some schools it was an optional matter. At some schools it was seasonal. At many schools there were rules about who coyld wear long trousers. Generally it was done by age. Some schools had height rules, but these were generally replaced by age rules or in a few instances class (form) rules. Many schools encouraged the boys to wear short trousers. I am not sure precisely why that was. I think it is primarily a matter of tradition. Many schools tend to be traditional.
