Figure 1.--This photo was taken in Genoa, prbably in the late-1960s or early-70s. It shows a 1st grade class of intermediate school (scuola media) i.e. 6th grade. That would make the children 11-12 years old. At the time was common that at scuola media (6th-8th grades) only the girls wore smocks. The dark color make it difficult to tell just what they are wearing, but as far as we call tell it is smocks. Dark smocks are usually associated with boys, but as you can see there is was no definative rule.

Smocks were a major school garment in Italy for both boys and girls. This has varied over time. We have very little information on the 19th century, but have found some information on the 20th century. While both boys and girls have commonly worn smocks in Italy, they seem to have been more common for girls than boys, althogh this has varied chrinologically. This seems especially true in the late-20th century as we see fewer boys wearing smocks. We have seen girls wearing smocks over a wider time period. Smocks were worn by older girls than boys. Also as smocks became a parental matter rather than Government and school regulations that they have become more common for girls than boys. Age was also somewhat of a factor. Smocks were most common for younger boys. This was less true for girls as we can see here anout 1970 (figure 1). We see many teenage girls but not boys wearing smocks, especially younger teens. Historically HBC is not sure what color smocks boys and girls wore. We see many images of boys and girls wearing dark smocks during the early- 20th century before World War II. In more recent years, Italian boys generally wore dark-colored smocks. Girls and very young boys have been more likely to wear light-colored smocks. Often they were worn with with Peter Pan collars. At some schools only the girls wore smocks. This tended to be at schools beyond the primary years. At other schools it was up to the parents. Here often it was the girls who were the most likely to wear smocks, although this has varied over time.

Chronology

Smocks were a major school garment in Italy for both boys and girls. This has varied over time. We have very little information on the 19th century, but have found some information on the 20th century. While both boys and girls have commonly worn smocks in Italy, they seem to have been more common for girls than boys, althogh this has varied chrinologically. This seems especially true in the late-20th century as we see fewer boys wearing smocks. We have seen girls wearing smocks over a wider time period.

School Rules

At some schools only the girls wore smocks. This tended to be at schools beyond the primary years. At other schools it was up to the parents. Here often it was the girls who were the most likely to wear smocks, although this has varied over time.

Age

Most Italian primary children wore smocks in the early- and mid-20th century. Smocks were worn by older girls than boys. The siutuation for older girls, especially in the late-20th century was more varied. Also as smocks became a parental matter rather than Government and school regulations that they have become more common for girls than boys. Age was also somewhat of a factor. Smocks were most common for younger boys. This was less true for girls as we can see here about 1970 (figure 1). We see many teenage girls but not boys wearing smocks, especially younger teens.

Color

Historically HBC is not sure what color smocks boys and girls wore. We see many images of boys and girls wearing dark smocks during the early-20th century before World War II. In more recent years, Italian boys generally wore dark-colored smocks. Girls and very young boys have been more likely to wear light-colored smocks. We are not sure when light colors first appeared. We see them in the 1930s, bit are not yet sure about earlier periods. There were no hard set rules as we see the girls here wearing dark-colored smocks. Dark-colored smocks for boys and light-colored smocks for girls was, however, a very prevalent convention. Just what the colors were we are not sure. We think the dark-colored smocks were commonly navy blue. We are not sure about the lihjt-colored smocks. Some were white, but there may have been light colors as well. We do not begin to see colored images until the 1970s. We see some girls wearing pinl smocks, but we do not nelieve tht was the case in the early- and mid-20th century.

Collars and Bows

Girls like boys often wore smocks with with wide white, rounded Peter Pan collars and bows. Not all Italian smocks had these collars, but they were very common. By the late-20th century we see fewer wide white collars and smocks in genrral. We see quite a few boys with pointed collars. These were not very common for girls who cintunued to wear mostly rounded Peter Pan collars. Not all smocks had these white collars, but the girls with wide white collars usually had Peter pan collars.

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1890s] [The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s]
[The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s]

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Return to the Main Italian school smock gender page]
[Return to the Main Italian school smock page]
[Return to the Main Italian school gender page]
[Return to the Main Italian school page]
[Return to the Main smocks page]
[Dresses] [Bodice dresses] [Kilts] [Sailor suits] [Sailor hats]
[Ring bearer/page costumes] [Pinafores] [Shortalls]

Created: 2:56 PM 6/8/2010
Last updated: 1:33 AM 9/23/2016