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It ws still possiblle in the 1920s to identify te counry involved in school portrait based on the clothes the children were wearing. The modern styles of schoolwear and school uniform generally appeared in the 20th century, mostly after World War I. We notice a trend toward more casual styles beginning. Fewer boys wore suits to school. Knickers had become standard in America during the 1910s and this continued during the 1920s. Younger boys might wear short pants, but cord knickers were standard schoolwear. Boys and girls still commonly wore long stockings, especially black long stockings. Short pants became very common in Europe, although by no means universal. The shorts worn in the 1920s tended to be very long like knee pants. Girls alwayts wore dresses, never pants. England was by far the most important country in influencing school styles such as peaked school caps, blazers, and gym slips. France and Italy were also of some importance. School sandals also became very common in England and we see them in some other countries as well. After the War, Eton collars and knickers/knee pants grdually gave way to soft collars, blazers, and short pants. Most English bopys wore short pants and knee socks to school. Until after World War II, however, school uniforms were primarily worn at English private schools. Even so, they influenced styles in the state schools. German schools did not have uniforms, but many boys wore a military style peaked cap. Many French amd Italian children wore smocks. Italian children had wide white collars, but this was less common in France. Educational authorities varied on the value of school uniforms. Countries varied greatly as to their approach. While short pants were standard for schoolboys throughout Europe, hosiery was more varied, here climate was a factor. Knee socks were common, but long stockings widely worn in northern Europe wuth its cooler climate. There were also seasonal differences.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Return to the Main 1920s school page]
[Return to the Main school uniform 20th century chronology page]
[Return to the Main school uniform chronology page]
[Late 19th century]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Knicker suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]
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