School uniforms in the 1940s

During the 1940s, many schools across the world imposed strict guidelines for standard school attire, a precursor to our modern state school uniform policy. In the '40s, however, most U.S. state schools had no uniform policy as did schools in England, Europe and South America. In the U.S., parochial and private schools were typically the only schools to mandate strict uniform policies.

British schools typically used uniforms in both public and private schools in the 1940s. The uniform codes were strict, and colours were usually sombre. Girls wore straight skirts just below the knee, a white blouse, a necktie in school colours and a suit jacket that matched the skirt. They wore sensible, low-heeled shoes or Mary Janes. Young boys wore short trousers just above the knee, and teens wore long slacks. Boys also wore white shirts and school-coloured ties; sometimes they wore a sweater over their white shirt instead of a blazer. Little boys wore knee-socks and sturdy shoes.

Uniforms for state school were not required in the United States in the '40s; however, some private schools imposed a strict uniform policy. Catholic schools and other private schools usually required a specific uniform. Catholic schoolgirls wore plaid skirts or jumpers with white blouses and Mary Jane shoes. Boys wore slacks, a white shirt and a school-coloured tie. Some boys were also required to wear jackets or sweaters; other private schools imposed similar dress codes with solid colours instead of plaids.

Latin America was heavily influenced by the British and other European countries, such as Spain and often reflected the style of the day in Europe. In the 1940s in Barbados and Anguilla, children wore long or short trousers for uniform bottoms and white shirts. In Cuba, the children wore red trousers with bright red suspenders and white shirts. The Dominican Republic favoured sailor-style uniforms for boys and girls. Some Latin American countries required children to wear jackets or smocks over their regular clothing.

Canadian children wore uniforms similar to British uniforms. Boys wore short trousers until they were teens, when they exchanged them for long trousers. In addition, boys were required to wear Wellington boots and suspenders with newsboy hats. White shirts with sweaters over them were a staple for Canadian boys' uniforms, while girls wore knee-length dresses or skirts with white blouses. Depending on the school, the girls could also wear a jacket or sweater over their blouses. Black, low-heeled shoes with rubber soles were a typical choice for schoolgirls.