Figure 1.--Rules about school uniform hosiery varied. At this school, all the children wore grey knee socks. At many other schools the girls wore different hosiery. |
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Schools vary as to the hosiery worn by boys and girls just as overall uniforms are different to vary degrees. Some schools have the girls wear uniforms similar to the boys, only replacing the trousers with grey skirts. Other schools have completely different outfits for the girls, such as summer dresses or plaid skirts. Hosiery rules are also different. Some schools have the girls wear grey knee socks like the boys wearing short pants. Normally this is plain grey knee socks. It is less common for the girls to wear the school socks with the colored bands, although we see this as well. There are, however, other options for the girls. The girls at many schools wear white socks, both ankle socks and knee socks. British boys do not often wear white socks as part of school uniform, except for games such as cricket. We are not entirely sure why this is, except that white socks were so commonly weorn by girls. On the Continent this destinction never developed. Another option for the girls is tights. Before World War II, long stockings were worn at many schools. They seemed most common at conservative girls' schools and were worn as much for modesty as warmth. Long stockings generally disappeared after the War, but were replaced by tights. This is usually an option for the winter term. Tights were never worn by the boys. Tights were not very common. Knee socks were the dominant hosiery types, but some girls wore tights.
Schools vary as to the hosiery worn by boys and girls just as overall uniforms are different to vary degrees. Some schools have the girls wear uniforms similar to the boys, only replacing the trousers with grey skirts. Other schools have completely different outfits for the girls, such as summer dresses or plaid skirts. Hosiery rules are also different. Some schools have the girls wear grey knee socks like the boys wearing short pants. Normally this is plain grey knee socks. It is less common for the girls to wear the school socks with the colored bands, although we see this as well. There are, however, other options for the girls.
The girls at many schools wear white socks, both ankle socks and knee socks. British boys do not often wear white socks as part of school uniform, except for games such as cricket. We are not entirely sure why this is, except that white socks were so commonly weorn by girls. On the Continent this destinction never developed. It is, howeever, a very strong destinction asnd British boys would not want to wear white socks except for sports.
Girls wear a variety of hosiery types with school uniforms. The most common at the modern prep school are ankle socks and knee socks. Historically long over-the-knee stockings were also very common. Knee socks seem by far the most common, but asnkle socks are also worn, especially during the summer. Another option for the girls is tights. Before World War II, long stockings were worn at many schools. They seemed most common at conservative girls' schools and were worn as much for modesty as warmth. Long stockings generally disappeared after the War, but were replaced by tights. This is usually an option for the winter term. Tights were never worn by the boys. Tights were not very common. Knee socks were the dominant hosiery types, but some girls wore tights. At many schools it was option. A few schools, most girls' schools required them.
