Figure 1.--This class of Italian primary school children, probably in norther Italy. They were photographed in 1930 at some undisclosed school in Italy, showing the wide-spread use of smocks in Italian schools. These children seem to be about about 8 years old. The girls wear smocks all of which seem to have prominent white collars. When children are dressed alike like this it is because they are required to do so. The boys, however, were not required to wear smocks. Most of the boys are wearing dark shirts or long-sleeved jerseys with matching short trousers. They also wear long stockings--beige or dark brown--obviously with hose supporters because the stockings are so smoothly and tautly held in place. The girls wear long stockings also, but their legs are mostly covered by skirts. Note that one of the girls wears a hair bow.

Italian boys and girls have dressed very differently for school, but these differences have varied substantially over time. Many Italian children wore their ordinary clothes to school. The differences were fairly standard during the first half of the 20th century until well after World War II. The boys wore long and short pants and the girls dresses and skirts. This began to change in the 1970s when we begin to see girls beginning to wear pants. This of course substantially reduced, but of course did not eliminate the gender differences in school wear. Both boys and girls commonly wore smocks in Italy. In some cases they wore the same smocks, but often the smocks were differentiated in style or color. We note, however, some schools where only the girls wore smocks. Here we do not yet fully understand the conventions. While both boys and girls wore smocks, there were often differences on the color or design of the smocks differentiating those for boys and girls. While Italian school children were noted for wearing smocks, we have also found some schools that have worn uniforms. This was nmot very common, but we have found some schools, We have found so few examples that we can not yet assess the trends with any authority.

Ordinary Clothes

Italian boys and girls have dressed very differently for school, but these differences have varied substantially over time. We do not have much information on the 19th century. Many Italian children wore their ordinary clothes to school. The differences were fairly standard during the first half of the 20th century until well after World War II. The boys wore long and short pants and the girls dresses and skirts. This began to change in the 1970s when we begin to see girls beginning to wear pants. This of course substantially reduced, but of course did not eliminate the gender differences in school wear.

Traditional Folk Outfits

Girls and women in some rural villages wore the traditional costumes. This continued unto the early-20th century. By this time you mostly see the traditional clothes being worn in isolated cilliages on Sicily and Sardinia. I think this was more common for the girls than the boys. This was mostly at poor villages in which the peopke were mostly very poor. The traditional clothong was yheir normal clothing. Probably they wore shoes only in wintertime, if they even owned a pair. The trafitional garments often were so similr that they looked like uniforms.

Smocks

Both boys and girls commonly wore smocks in Italy. In some cases they wore the same smocks, but often the smocks were differentiated in style or color. Smock styles and colors and thus these gender differences have varied over time. We note some schools where only the girls wore smocks. Here we do not yet fully understand the conventions. While both boys and girls wore smocks, there were often differences on the color or design of the smocks differentiating those for boys and girls.

Uniforms

While Italian school children were primarily noted for wearing smocks, we have also found some schools that have worn uniforms. There were differently styled uniforms for boys and girls. This was nmot very common, but we have found some schools, We have found so few examples that we can not yet assess the trends with any authority.

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Created: 7:02 PM 7/1/2007
Last updated: 6:27 PM 6/7/2010