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We note boys wearing different types of trousers. The British always say trousers and not pants like Americans. Almost all schools by the 1980s had short and/or long trousers. Knickers or breeches had once been common at Brirish schools, but this had generally changed in the early 20th century. The various schools had different regulations about who could wear what and when. This was particularly true of short and long trousers. A few schools required all boys to wear short trousers, but most schools allowed the older boys or prefects to wear long trousers. The precise rules varied from school to school. Some schools used age and others form levels as the determining factor. Some schools did not require boys to wear short trousers and generally all or most of the boys wore long trousers at these schools, although there was some seasonal variation. Generally looking more grown up seemed to win out over comfort, even in warm weather. One school in London had an optional knickers uniform for the Winter.
Knickers were once a common school uniform garmentb in England. Our British readers her would probably say knickerbockerts. the American term knickers having a different meaning. We notice many prep school boys wearing knickers in the early 20th century. This rapidly declined after World war I. Ny the 1930s we no longer see knickers being worn at British prep schools. We note that there was on exception. One London prep school allowed the children the choice of short trousers or knickers. Many boys during the Winter chose the knickers. As far as I know, this is the only school which had knickers as part of the uniform.
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. his 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 sdchools 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.
Schools varied as to their approach to long trousers. Long trousers became increasingly common during the 1980s, especially for the older boys. Boys normally wore either grey or black long trousers. A few schools had long corduroy trousers, but this was not very common. Curiously while almost all the schools insisted girls wear dresses or skirts, a few allowed girls to wear long cord trousers during the Winter. The girls were not allowed to wear shorts or other types of long trousers. This was a relatively rare approasch, for the most part the schools insisted the girls wear skirts and dresses. Many schools required all or some of the boys to wear short trousers. Some schools had an age or form limit. In the past there was a heighth linit at some schools, but we did not notice this at the schools we visited. The most common rule was an age limit. Quite a number of schools allowed all the boys to wear long trousers. At many schools both short and long trousers were allowed. Some boys wore shorts even when not required, but most preferred to wear long trousers is permitted to do so.
