Let’s explore how school uniforms have looked across different eras and countries!
School uniforms are an important part of campus culture,
and they serve as witnesses to historical changes.
For students,
school uniforms are their constant companions—
faithful “partners” throughout the seasons of school life.
1.1509–1834
Records from 1509 indicate that school uniforms in England can be traced back to the time of Henry VIII (1509–1547), giving them a history of nearly 500 years. et rerum. Ut illum non consectetur nihil repellat ea
In 1721, during the Tsarist Russia period, the government had already mandated that students wear standardized uniforms at school. However, since education at the time was mostly accessible to the nobility, the maid-like style of these uniforms did not leave a strong impression on the public.
In 1834, school uniforms in Russia were officially documented. At that time, all school uniforms had a strong military style, featuring military caps, jackets, and coats. Different schools were distinguished only by variations in color, buttons, and badges.
2.1872–1898
On August 11, 1872, the Qing government sent the first group of Chinese students to study in the United States. These students later attended prestigious universities such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and MIT. They wore uniforms that were officially issued by the Qing government.
3.1889–1898
In 1889 (Meiji 22), a graduation photo of students from Tokyo First Middle School (now Tokyo Metropolitan Hibiya High School) was preserved. This school was one of the top secondary schools in Japan during the Meiji to Showa periods and served as a preparatory school for the University of Tokyo.
In 1890, photographs documented boys wearing uniforms of the Beiyang Fleet, who were young naval cadets from around 1890 to 1900.
In 1898, a group photo from a girls’ school in Queensland, Australia, taken around 1901, captured the school uniform styles of the time.
During the late Qing Dynasty, educator Zhang Boling taught at two private academies run by Yan Xiu and Wang Kuizhang, and a photo of him with his students has been preserved.
In 1916, a school uniform style emerged featuring dark tops paired with knee-length pleated skirts, black stockings, and black leather shoes. At the time, school uniforms symbolized social progress—especially the introduction of girls’ uniforms, which carried significant cultural meaning. (A famous photo of Lin Huiyin with her sisters showcases this style.)
By 1930, the modernized qipao—an adaptation blending Manchu and Han clothing styles that had already become fashionable in the 1920s—entered schools and became a favorite among female students.
In 1952, during the early years of the People’s Republic of China, most people wore blue or gray cadre uniforms, Lenin coats, and padded jackets. Traditional garments like changshan and magua had largely faded from everyday life.
In 1993, standardized “face-pocket” style uniforms (面口袋校服) became widely adopted, leaving a lasting impression on many students born in the 1980s.
2000–Present Since the turn of the 21st century, traditional school uniforms have gradually fallen out of step with modern aesthetic preferences, ushering in a new era of development. Under the influence of personalization trends, uniforms that combine comfort and style have become the new standard sought by today’s students. The evolution of school uniforms over the past century not only reflects their continuous adaptation to the times but also mirrors the broader social and cultural changes across different eras.
