Figure 1.--TThese children look to be mostly boys. The impge is undated, but was probably taken in the 1990s. Note that these simple smocks, some quite long, have no detailing. The neck and cuffs appear to have elasticized or drawstring treatment.

We have at this time very limited information about styles of Spanish school smocks. This is primarily because we have virtually no information about early Spanish school smocks. We do have quite a number of images of modern school smocks. The primary stylistic features are the buttoning arangemnents and the collars, but there are other elements affecting styling as well. We note both front and back buttoning smocks. The older boys generally wear front buttoning smocks, mormally with collars. The younger children mor commonly wear back-buttoning smocks, often without collars. Sometimes the smocks have a open head opening. Some appear to almost have drawstrings to kepp collasless smocks closed. We have not noted smocks worn with white colars, but belleve they may have been worn earlier. Children no longer wear bows with their smocks, but again they have been worn earlier. We note some smocks have pockets. Others are very simple garments without any adornment or detailing. Some oldr boys have sleeves with cuff detailing. Many youngr boys appear to have no sleeve cuffs, but elasticised sleeves.

Government Regulations

As far as we know there was never any one single style approved by the government for Spanish school children, but our information is very limited. Or do we know if the government ever issued regulations requiring smocks be worn. The decession about wearing smocks seems to have been up to each school. However the fact that smock wearing was so extensive, we suspect that there was some level of government involvement. Hopefully our panish readers can provide some insights on this. As far as we can tell, the style selected was a matter for the local school to determine.

Specific Styles

We have noted a variety of stylistic features with the smocks worn by Spanish children.

Buttoning

We note both front and back buttoning smocks. The older boys generally wear front buttoning smocks, mormally with collars. The younger children or sometimes girls more commonly wear back-buttoning smocks in many countries. This convention also is established in Spain, but perhaps to alesser extent tha other countries. There are also substantial differences from school to school. A Spanish mother writes us, "Las batas abrochadas en la espalda son tipo de batas muy peculiar, ya que los botones son difíciles de abrochar totalmente y para poderlo hacer normalmente se necesita la ayuda de otra persona, aunque tiene la ventaja ofrece una mayor protección respecto a los otros estilos. En el caso de las escuelas, la misión de la bata a parte de la protección de la ropa es enseñar disciplina a los alumnos. La disciplina se consigue con actos y normas en la escuela pero también se consiguen con este tipo de batas. Mis hijos deben vestir estas batas abrochadas en la espalda en su escuela, son escuelas diferentes, ya que no son mixtas y son de tipo elitistas y el uso de uniforme y batas abrochadas en la espalda consiguen esta disciplina. En la escuela de mi hijo la bata abrochada en la espalda la deben vestir hasta los 14 años y el uniforme hasta los 17 años. En la escuela de mi hija, la bata rosa abrochada en la espalda la deben vestir hasta los 16 años y el uniforme hasta los 17 años, es decir cuando terminan la escuela secundaria. Estoy totalmente a favor con el uso de estas batas abrochadas en la espalda en la educación secundaria." This means, "Back buttoning smocks are a peculiar in that the buttons are diificult for the wearer to button by oneself and to finish buttoning up the child needs someone to help him. On the other hand they have the advantage of offering greatrprotecton than the other style. In the case of scool smocks, the purpose of the smock apart from protecting the clothes is to teach dscipline to the students. Descipline is achieved through acts and standards in the school, but these back buttoning smocks help to teach discpline to the students. My children have to wear these back buttoning smocks in their schools. They go to different schools. They are elite private schools and not mixed gender schools. There is also a uniform. The use of a uniform and bak buttoning smock is considered a matter if discipline. In my son's school, hboys hv to wear back buttoning smocks until age 14 and uniforms until age 17. In my daughter's school, the girls wear pink back buttoning smocks to age 16 and uniforms to age 17 or through the end of secondary school. I am totaly in favor of the use of these back buttoning smocks in secondary schools."

Collars

We have noted smocks both with and without collars. Sometimes the smocks have a open head opening. Some appear to almost have drawstrings to keep collarless smocks closed. We have not noted smocks worn with white colars, but belleve they may have been worn earlier. We also see rounded Peter Pan collars on some smocks. These seem more common on girls' smocks. One Spanish reader tells us that rounded Peter Pan collars are most common on smocks for younger children. She writes, "Te puedo indicar que este tipo de cuello da a la bata un toque un poco más infantil. Puede ser que esta sea la razón de porque las bata de mi hijo, no lleva este tipo de cuello." That means, "I cn confirm to you that this type of collar gives a juveile look to the smock. This may be the reason that the smock of my son does not have this type of collar."

Bows

Children no longer wear bows with their smocks, but again they have been worn earlier.

Belts

Some Spanish school smocks come with belts or half belts. We are not sure about the conventions involved here. A Spanish reader tells us, "Puedes observar también que la bata de mi hija lleva también un cinturón que se abrocha también en la espalda, este cinturón lo puedo considerar como un recurso más estilístico que práctico." I can also observethat the school smock of my daughter also has a belt that fasten at the back. This belt I would classify as more stylistic than practical."

Pockets

We note some smocks have pockets. Some are detailed in contrasting colors. Others are very simple garments without any adornment or detailing.

Cuffs

Some oldr boys have sleeves with cuff detailing. We have also noted smocks detailed with cuffs in contrasting colors. Some youngr boys appear to have no sleeve cuffs, but elasticised sleeves.

Created: September 18, 2002
Last updated: December 8, 2003