Figure 1.--Here we have an unidentified Greek boy apparently doing his school work at home. He is wearing a classic European school smock, presumably dark blue with a wide white Peter Pan collar. Note that the smock itself has a collar. Mother has added on the white Peter Pan collar. The photograph is undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1950s. The boy looks to be about 7 years old.

HBC has little early historical information about Greek school smocks. Smocks were first introduced in European schools by France (1870s). France was a very influential country but we do not see other countries immediately following suit, although this may reflect our limited 19h century archive. We have very little information about smaller countries like Greece, especially in the 19th century. We know next to nothing about Greek schools in he 19th century. We do have some limited information on the 20th century. Several countries (Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain) )had introduced school smocks. Greece is more of a country. We note quite a few Geek school portraits in which a few boys are wearing smocks, but not the whole class. This is rather unusual. It suggests that some Greek mothers lked the idea of school smocks, but that few schools required them. We are not sure just what was influencing Greek mothers. We note several boys wearing school mocks at an unidentified school in the 1930s. They are identical styles with patch pockets. For some reason, the girls at this school are not wearing smocks. In most countries, it was he girls were more likely to war smocks and at older ges. Many elementary school children, both boys and girls, by the 1950s appear to wearing smocks to school. The school uniform for the Demotiko in the 1950s and 60s consisted of a blue smock with white collars for girls and boys. The boy here is a good example (figure 1). The democratic Karamanlis government of 1974 changed the school uniform requirements. Now, boys and girls in Demotiko had to wear the blue smock with a large white collar and there were theoretically no exceptions to the rule. School photographs during this period, however, show considerable diversity in what the children wore. This varied greatly from school to school and over time. In 1982 the social democrat government of Andreas Papandreou abolished the school uniform once and forever. Smocks continued to be worn at some private schools for a few years. Greek children, especially the boys, never wear smocks to school any more. They much prefer the popular 'formes'.

The 19th Century

HBC has little early historical information about Greek school smocks. Smocks were first introduced in European schools by France (1870s). France was a very influential country but we do not see other countries immediately following suit, although this may reflect our limited 19h century archive. We have very little information about smaller countries like Greece, especially in the 19th century. We know next to nothing about Greek schools in he 19th century. Following school developments in smaller countries like Greece is a chllenge, especially in the 19th century.

The 20th Century

We do have some limited information on the 20th century. Several countries (Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain) )had introduced school smocks. Greece is more of a country. We note quite a few Geek school portraits in which a few boys are wearing smocks, but not the whole class. This is rather unusual. It suggests that some Greek mothers lked the idea of school smocks, but that few schools required them. We are not sure just what was influencing Greek mothers. We note several boys wearing school mocks at an unidentified school in the 1930s. They are identical styles with patch pockets. For some reason, the girls at this school are not wearing smocks. In most countries, it was he girls were more likely to war smocks and at older ges. Many elementary school children, both boys and girls, by the 1950s appear to wearing smocks to school. The school uniform for the Demotiko in the 1950s and 60s consisted of a blue smock with white collars for girls and boys. The boy here is a good example of his classic style (figure 1). The democratic Karamanlis government of 1974 changed the sshool uniform requirements. Now, boys and girls in Demotiko had to wear the blue smock with a large white collar and there were theoretically no exceptions to the rule. School photographs during this period, however, show considerable diversity in what the children wore. This varied greatly from school to school and over time. In 1982 the social democrat government of Andreas Papandreou abolished the school uniform once and forever. Smocks continued to be worn at some private schools for a few years. Greek children, especially the boys, never wear smocks to school any more. They much prefer the popular 'formes'.

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Created: 8:57 AM 5/31/2020
Last updated: 3:49 PM 3/4/2025