School Uniform Short Trouser Linings: Country Trends


Figure 1.-- These English grey flannel school shorts were lined in a grey, pure cotton fabric. Stamina was another important English producer of school uniforms.

The short pants sold in various countries differ as to the linings. Much of our informaton on linings comes from Britain or British Empire countries like Australia and New Zealand. British shorts were very commonly lined, evern cord shorts. The exception was light-weight summer shorts. And British Empire countries tended to follow British conventions. Better-made French shorts were lalso ined, but in general lining was less common in France than in Britain. We do not yet have information on Germany and Italy. These countries, of course, did not have widely worn school uniform shorts. American shorts are generally unlined.

Australia

No information currently available for Australia.

England

Almost all of the better made shorts are lined. This included shorts made in corduroy, flannel, Terelyn, and other materials. The image here how a pair of lined cord shorts (figure 1). Most private schools requiring the boys to wear short trousersm selected lined shorts as part of the school uniform. Some of the cheaper shorts sold in discount stores are unlined. These were commonly worn in state primary schools. An English reader tells us, "All the boys at my school wore grey short trousers all year round. I remember going to Marks and Spencers in the mid-70s to buy my school uniform. I first took off myold short trousers in the kids section before being handed a white nylon shirt followed by a pair of grey shorts which where linned in a white nylon material similar to the white shirt." We notice three English boys at an unidentified beach resort about 1930. One boy has rolled up his shorts to go wadeing and you can see the linings.

France

French schools generally did not require uniforms. Some Catholic schools after World War II did introduce uniforms which requited the boys to wear short pants. The shorts were often corderoy and thus unlined, but HBC has not yet confirmed this with French sources. While there were no regulatins, French boys into the 1960s commonly wore short pants to school. A French HBC contributor reviewed ads in French clothing catalogsreports the following trends:
1935 to 1956: During this period he found 27 references to short pants. There were 6 cord shorts (normal quality or extra) and 21 wool shorts (normal or extra, no flannel). Nothing was specified about lining. Thus it is not clear if they were not lined or all lined. Apparently lining was not important enough to be mentioned.
1957 to 1969: Shorts were still commonly worn by French bous during this period, but declined significantly in the 1970s. There were 17 references to shorts in the catalogs reviewed, 11 were lined and 6 were not lined. Of 6 cord shorts, 2 were lined and 4 were unlined. Both pairs of flannel shorts were lined. A pair of wool shorts mentioned was lined. The polyester shorts were mostly lined, 6 Tergal (Terylene) were found, 5 were lined and 1 was not. A pair of Tercryl shorts (wool, acrylic, polyester) was lined. There was also a pair of Daltskin (polyurethane on cotton fabric) which was not lined. On the photo it look like plastic, very firm.

Germany

None of our German readers have mentioned short trouser linings. I do not know to what extent the short produced in Germany were lined.

Italy

No minformation available.

Japan

Japan is another country in which boys commonly wore school uniform shorts. We are not yet sure, however, if they were lined. Hopefull our Japanese readers can provide some details.

New Zealand

New Zealand winter Terrelyn shorts are mostly lined, both the grey and blue shorts. The summer grey cotton shorts, however, are not lined.

South Africa

School shorts sold within South Africa are almost without exception unlined; only those produced for export are normally lined. As always, there are a few exceptions.

United States

I am not sure about the short pants sold in America durung the 1920s-40s, but I think most were unlind. The shorts worn with well made suits may have been lined, but we have no actual informatiuon at this time. The shorts commonly sold since the 1950s have been unlined. School uniforms became increasingly common in the 1950s. Almost all of the short pants, often blue or khaki, sold by school uniform suppliers in the United States are unlined. They are generally referred to as "walk" shorts.








HBC





Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main school shorts lining page]
[Return to the Main school shorts page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [Essays] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]



Created: 4:22 PM 2/7/2008
Last updated: 4:22 PM 2/7/2008