Figure 1.--Proper British school shorts were always done wuth linings. Only very inexpensive shorts were not lined. School long trousers were not lined. |
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School short pants were made with a variety of features during the 1980s whn most of our visits occurred. School shorts and trousers were manufactured by quite a number of companies, yet they had many common features.
These features included a crease, pockets, various support features, waistline closing and fly, linings, and cuffs. A crease was seen as a dressy element. School shorts especially the Terelyn short pants came with a deep crease. This was not the case with cord shorts. And flannel shorts which were much less common than in early decades came wiyh a crease, but did not hold it very well. Standard school shorts normally came with two front pockets, but no back pockets. This was a very common convntion for chool shorts. Pockets are very important to boys. A fascinsting study could be done on the variety of items that find their ways into boys' pockets. Boys by the 1980s were at a disadvantage because short pants tended to be more snug fitting than in earlier years. And in some cases the shorts were cut so short that the pockets were not very deep. Thus there wasn't much they could fit into their pockets. An exception concerning pockets here were a few schools that had cotton trunk shorts during the summer. Boys did not normally carry wallets. All standard school shorts by the 1970s were made with zipper flys. Earlier they were done with button flys. Waistabands were done in a number of different ways. Waistband closures were commonly done with a clasp. There were shorts done with adjustable tabs. They were popular in the 1970s, but less so in the 80s. Most boys had shorts with belt loops. Younger bous commonly had shorts with elasticized half waists. Proper school shorts were lined, although there were inexpensive shorts available that were not lined. These were not normally weorn at prep schools. The lining material varied. The lining was usually white, but sometimes light blue. Long trousers were not lined. School shorts did not have cuffs, although they were becoming fashionable.
A crease was seen as a dressy element. This was considered part of a smart look which the schools wanted to achieve. . This was true for both short and long pants. School shorts especially the Terelyn short pants came with a deep crease. This was not the case with cord shorts. And flannel shorts which were much less common than in early decades came wiyh a crease, but did not hold it very well.
Standard school shorts normally came with two front pockets, but no back pockets. This was a very common convntion for chool shorts. Pockets are very important to boys. A fascinsting study could be done on the variety of items that find their ways into boys' pockets. Boys by the 1980s were at a disadvantage because short pants tended to be more snug fitting than in earlier years. The cut of the shorts vried from company to company and varied somewhat over time. The chain stores tended to sell rather snug fitting shorts. The more expensive shorts sold in outfitters handling school uniforms tended to be cut a little fuller. A reader who was in school during the 1950s tells us about all the valuables he cramed into his pockets. He particularly remembers all the horse chesenuts he collected when conker time came around each year. And in some cases the shorts during the 1980s were cut so short that the pockets could not be made very deep. Thus there wasn't much the boys could fit into their pockets. An exception concerning pockets here were a few schools that had cotton trunk shorts during the summer. Boys did not normally carry wallets so back pockers were less important.
All standard school shorts by the 1970s were made with zipper flys. Earlier they were done with button flys. Waistabands were done in a number of different ways. Waistband closures were commonly done with a clasp.
There were variations in waistlines which essentially mean trouser suspension. There were shorts done with adjustable tabs. They were popular in the 1970s, but less so in the 80s. Most boys had shorts with belt loops. Younger bous commonly had shorts with elasticized half waists.
Proper school shorts were lined, although there were inexpensive shorts available that were not lined. These were not normally weorn at prep schools. The lining material varied. The lining was usually white, but sometimes light blue. Long trousers were not lined.
School shorts did not have cuffs, although they were becoming fashionable. We saw very few boys with cuffed shorts.
