Cultural History of School Uniform

Kate Stephenson is a cultural historian who has diverse research interests within the fields of dress and social history. She is an Edinburgh-based freelancer working in heritage and public engagement.

Kate Stephenson offers the first comprehensive study of school uniform development in Britain, and as such offers the reader a reminder that the modern ideas associated with school uniform are the result of a long history of communicating identity akin to the consumption of clothing in a wider sense. As such, this publication would be of interest to anyone with an interest in the development of school uniform and the wider social, cultural, and historical context in which it existed/exists.

• List of Illustrations Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Be Keen! Introduction1. The Charity Schools 1552–1900 Early School Clothing Christ’s Hospital Other Charity Schools Traditional Appearances Viewing Charity Children2. The Public Schools 1800–1939 Sport and the Introduction of Uniform Clothing Creation of the Public School Ethos Uniform Design Collective Identity Emulation Harrow—A Case Study3. Public Schools for Girls 1850–1939 Early Girls’ Schools and the Feminine Ideal Sportswear and Uniform Day Uniforms Formality and Conformity4. Education for All 1860–1939 Middle-Class Secondary Education Elementary Education for the Working Classes Mixed Classes in Secondary Education5. Fashion and Fancy Dress 1939–Present Post-War Dressing UpConclusion Notes Glossary Bibliography Index