Figure 1.-This school had a casual summer uniform with short sleeved shirts worn without ties and ankle socks. Sandals were worn during both the summer and winter term. .

Schools have different approaches to seasonal changes. Some schools have basically the same uniform for summer and winter wear. Other schools have entirely different summer and winter uniforms. Other schools have only some garment changes. Basically winter uniforms tended to be forma with suit jackets/blazers and ties. Summer uniforms in some schools can be casual casual outfits. . This is possible because have the really severe weather conditions experienced by other countries. Summers are relatively mild and there is vacation for the warmer summer months. And by the same token there is no really severe winter weather conditions and only very limited snow even in Scotland. Scarves and coats are worn, Some schools have uniform coats, Gaberdine coats also worn on rainy days were once common, but are now much less worn. Other schools allowed the children to wear coats of their own choosing.

Summer Uniforms

Many schools do not have special summer uniforms. This is possible because Britain does not have the really severe weather conditions experienced by other countries. Summer uniforms in other schools can be casual outfits. This included not only short-sleeved shirt, but in some cases polo shirts. Short pants were common year round. Since the 1980s when long pants became more common, we see shorts worn as a summer uniform. Some schools with short pants uniform shifted from knee socks to ankle socks during the summer. A few school did away with socks during the summer and the children wore sandals. Summers are relatively mild and there is vacation for the warmer summer months.

Winter Uniforms

Basically winter uniforms tended to be formal with suit jackets/blazers and ties. And by the same token that summers are mild, there is no really severe winter weather conditions and only very limited snow even in Scotland. Sweaters were common, but not necessarily just worn during the winter term. Weather in England is variable and there can be chilly days even during the warmer months. Knee socks were common at the schools where short pants were worn. For the most part we do not see ankle socks during the winter term. Scarves and coats are worn, Some schools have uniform coats, Gaberdine coats also worn on rainy days were once common, but are now much less worn. Other schools allowed the children to wear coats of their own choosing.

Coats

The coat was an important part of an English boys uniform. Given the often rainy and chilly weather, the coat was often worn to school. British boys have worn both long overcoats as well as more informal heavy jacket style coats. There are some class differences here. Affluent boys going to private schools often wore formal overcoats than boys from less affluent families going to state schools. Many boys going to private schools until the 1970s had rather formal gaberdine overcoats. In fact, the overcoat that many English boys will remember is the gaberdine overcoat. Another standard was the less formal duffel coat which was more widely worn and a common choice at both state and private schools. Many other types of overcoats have been worn by British boys. In recent years more brightly colored, heavily insulated ski jacjkts have become popular.