** English school uniform: chronology 1910s








English School Trends: Chronology -- 1910s


Figure 1.--Here we see what looks like a class group of junior boys with a rather serious looking young master. There seems to be some difference in ages, but we do not see any serionr boys. It surely is an unidentified public school. All we know for sure is that it was dated 'Xmas 1916' during World War I. Perhaps it was boys who stayed in school for the holidays. The portrit had a post card back. The school apparently did not hve a unirom, although almost all the boys are wearing school caps. Notice the different ways of wearing the caps. The boys are also all wearing suits, although there is no uniform style or even color, although they all seem to have vests. Aparently knickers were required, at least for the younger boys. The boys had different ways of wearing their knee socks with the knickers. One boy msy be wearing long stockings. We also note Eton collars, although most boys opted for soft collars. We see mostly neckties, although one boy wears a bow tie. There does not seem to be a school tie.

Schoolwear and uniforms did not change markedly during the 1910s. World War I had an influence. Even tony private scghools had to deal with shortages and a movement toward infrmality. Of course uniforms were still only worn at private schools. The peaked school cap was stiil ubiquitous. Younger boys still wore a range of juvenile outfits. The sailor suit was especially popular, but only for the youngest boys. We no longer see much Fauntleroy styling. Boys in state schools still tended to dress up in suits, but did not wear uniforms. Eton collars were still very common, but some boys did begin wearing soft collars and ties. Some private schools required Eton collars, but not all. The school here did not require Eton collars, but some boys still won them because their parents insisted (figure 1). Boys still commoly wore suits to school in both the state and private schools. Blazers were still primarily sportswear, but by the end of the decade had began to be worn at prep schools. Some notable changes were beginning. Some private schools allowed the boy to choose their suits, but this was becoming less common by the 1910s. It looks to us like the school here is about to introduce dark-colored suits to match the caps. One of the most significant changes was the increasing trend to wear short trousers and knee socks rather than knee pants and long stockings or knickers likethe boys here are wearing. We see some long pants even with the younger boys, but this was clearly becoming less common. The popular Boy Scout movemrent was probably an influence here. This trend was most apparenant in the state schools, but was noticeable at prep schools as well. A few public (private boarding) schools still had knickers as part of the school uniform. High-top shoes were still common. Notice that the boys here are nearly all wearing high-tops, even the boys wearing long trousers, but the master is eaing low-cut shoes.

The Decade

Parliament passed the Fisher Act again raisimg he school-leaving age, this time to 14 years (1918). The Act also turned secondary schools over to the government education authofities. Some grammar schools became state-funded secondary schools. Most children at the time remained in primary schools up to the age of fourteen, rather than moving go a separate secondary school. The Fisher Act also provided for compulsory part-time education for students 14-18 years of age. The Government had hoped to expand tertiary education, but had to defer these plans because of the emormous costs of World War I. Officials were clearly thinking about future exoansion of the education system. Schoolwear and uniforms did not change markedly during the 1910s. We see many of the same styles we saw in the 1900s. World War I (1914-18) did have an influence. The War stressed the conomies of the various combtants. All kinds of shortages appeared in the domestic market. And children's clohing was not a priority. Even tony private schools had to deal with shortages and a movement toward informality. Of course uniforms were still only worn at private schools.

Garments

The peaked school cap was still ubiquitous. Boys in state schools still tended to dress up in suits, but did not wear uniforms. Eton collars were still very common, but some boys did begin wearing soft collars and ties. Some private schools required Eton collars, but not all. The school here did not require Eton collars, but some boys still won them because their parents insisted (figure 1). Boys still commoly wore suits to school in both the state and private schools. Blazers were still primarily sportswear, but by the end of the decade had began to be worn at prep schools. One of the most significant changes was the increasing trend to wear short trousers and knee socks rather than knee pants and long stockings or knickers like the boys here are wearing. We see some long pants even with the younger boys, but this was clearly becoming less common. The popular Boy Scout movemrent was probably an influence here. This trend was most apparenant in the state schools, but was noticeable at prep schools as well. A few public (private boarding) schools still had knickers as part of the school uniform. High-top shoes were still common. Notice that the boys here are nearly all wearing high-tops, even the boys wearing long trousers, but the master is eaing low-cut shoes.

Ages

Younger boys still wore a range of juvenile outfits. The sailor suit was especially popular, but only for the youngest boys. We no longer see much Fauntleroy styling. Suits were still very common.

School Types

Some notable changes in uniforms and schoolwear were beginning. This depended somewhat on the type of schools. We can not always determine the tyoe of school, but often can. We still see knickers and knee pants, but this is the last decade these pants types were common. Private schools mostly required suits or blazers. These schools often had quite ekaborate dress and unifirm regulatioins. And oif course the children in orimary dchools could afford to ndress well. Some private schools allowed the boy to choose their suits, but this was becoming less common by the 1910s. It looks to us like the private boarding school here is about to introduce dark-colored suits to match their caps (figure 1). Suits were worn in the state primary schools, but were less commoin than in the 1900s. We see many younger boys wearing shorts pants. Knee socks were beginning to replace long stockings. Beginning in the 1920s we see boys in the primary and prep schools wearing short pants became standard.






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Created: 3:35 PM 4/11/2014
Last updated: 2:08 PM 9/13/2021