|
The pinafore was very commonly worn to school by girls in the 19th and very early-20th century. We do not have a lot of chronological information for much of the 19th century, but we do see that the pinafore was very common in the late-19th century. We do not know if pinafores were worn in the 18th century, but we believe that they appeared by the late-18th century. As best we can tell, pinafores were worn throughout the 19th century, although we have very little information on the early-19th century. This was before England began building a state education system. Also photography does not appear until the 1840s, and in England. Dags and Ambros were much less common than in America. We do not see sizeable numbers of photographs until the the CDV became popular (1860s). Which of course means far more images are available permitting valid assessments of fashion trends. Available school portraits show many girls wearing pinafores. Often almost all the girls in a class are wearing pinafores. Sometimes they all are. The pinafore was worn as a protective garment. Two important factors were at play here. First clothes were expensive in the 19th century. A much larger percentage of family income went for clothes than is the case today. Second, laundry was a much more labor intensive undertaking than today. Mothers had to devote an entire day for the family laundry and it was a very labor intensive task. Thus pinafores served a very useful purpose, lowering the laundry needs by protecting clothes. While the pinafore was a protective garment, we not only see plain, utilitarian pinafores, but also fancy pinafores with frilly lace and ruffles. We mostly see white pinafores, but there were colored ones. We also note some pre-school boys wearing pinafores. And they were apparently worn at some work house schools by both boys and girls as an inexpensive and utilitarian garment.
The pinafore was very commonly worn to school by girls in the 19th and very early-20th century. We do not have a lot of chronological information for much of the 19th century, but we do see that the pinafore was very common in the late-19th century. We do not know if pinafores were worn in the 18th century, but we believe that they appeared by the late-18th century. As best we can tell, pinafores were worn throughout the 19th century, although we have very little information on the early-19th century. This was before England began building a state education system. Also photography does not appear until the 1840s, and in England. Dags and Ambros were much less common than in America. We do not see sizeable numbers of photographs until the the CDV became popular (1860s). Which of course means far more images are available permitting valid assessments of fashion trends. At the same time, England began building a public school system inmcreasing the number of schools abd children going to school (1870s). And girls were fully drawn into the school system, at least at the primary level. While we have few images from the early-19th century, thanks to pgitograohy we know a great deal about the late-19th century. Pinafores were still widely worn in the eraly-20th century. Pinafores declined substantually after World War I in the 1920s. The shift was rapid and extensive. We are not entirely sure why. We think that the development of modern laundrry detergents was a major factor.
Available school portraits show many girls wearing pinafores. Often almost all the girls in a class are wearing pinafores. Sometimes they all are. In school after school we see class portraits with a virtual a wall of girks showing up in mostly white pinafores. Such extensive usage might suggest that schools were requiring them. But as far as we can tell, this was not the case. It seems to be that it was mothers that were behind the extensive issue. We suspect ehe reasion being was primarily the laundry issue.
The pinafore was worn prinarily as a protective garment. It was sometimes worn for decirative affect, but protectingclothes was the orimary purpose. Two important factors were at play here. First clothes were expensive in the 19th century, especailly when measured in measures of consumer purchasing power such asf percetage of income. A much larger percentage of family income went for clothes than is the case today. Second, laundry was a much more labor intensive undertaking than today. Mothers had to devote an entire day for the family laundry and it was a very labor intensive task.As the pinafore was slipped on over the dress. it was easily removed for washing. Buttons aswell as fabric were frequently damaged by the harsh lye soap in common usage, a major reason why dresses were not washed as often as common today. Thus pinafores served a very useful purpose, lowering the laundry needs by protecting clothes.
While the pinafore was a protective garment, we not only see plain, utilitarian pinafores, but also fancy pinafores with frilly lace and ruffles. Notice all the different styling here (figure 1).
We mostly see white pinafores, but there were colored ones. White pinafores were common largely because white garments were easier to lauunder. Bleach could be added because mother did not have to wirrybaboutv washing out colors. And as a protective garment, pinafores were often washed more times than many other garments. We see a lot of colored pinafores here (figure 1). This was more than we usually see in these photographs. We even see a rare polkadot pinafore.
The opinafire was primarily a girls' garment. And even teenagers mightv wear them. We note some pre-school boys wearing pinafores. And they were apparently worn at some work house schools by both boys and girls as an inexpensive and a utilitarian garment. It is interesting that as a protective garment, it was boys that needed their clothes mbetter protected than generally less actiuve and mor ordeerrly girls. But there was just no way rgat bou=ys of any age were going to wear pinafores, In France, the boys wid wear smocks--a similar garment, but not punafores.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1800s][The 1810s][The 1820s][The 1830s][The 1840s][The 1850s][The 1860s]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Section:
[Return to the Main English skirted school garment page]
[Return to the Main English school garment page]
[Return to the Main English pinafore page]
[Return to the Main school pinadore page]
[Australia][England][France][Germany]
[Italy][Japan][New Zealand][Scotland]
[United States]
Navigate the HBC School Section
[Activities][Chronology][Clothing styles][Countries][Debate][Economics][Garment][Gender][Hair][History][Home trends][Literary characters]
[School types][Significance][Transport and travel[Uniform regulations][Year level][Other topics]
[Images][Links][Registration][Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]
