1950s and 60s leisure wear. Was school uniform worn socially?

Back in 50/60's the only primary schools that had a uniform were private. None of the state schools - this did not start happening until about the mid-1970's.

School uniform was very expensive, and much of it required dry-cleaning. So, it was worn strictly just for school. The minute we got back home, it had to be taken off, sponged down (if necessary), and hung up.

I had my 'best clothes' otherwise it was just anything that fitted, often second hand, and, of course, back then , no trousers of any sorts for females, so skirts and dresses.

Back in 50/60's the only primary schools that had a uniform were private. None of the state schools - this did not start happening until about the mid-1970's.

That is not true.

My state primary (junior school) had a uniform of grey pinafore dress, white blouse, red tie and navy cardigan in the 1950s. Not as strict as the Grammar Schools which had to be purchased from a specific supplier but could be obtained from a draper's shop in town.

Allira

^Back in 50/60's the only primary schools that had a uniform were private. None of the state schools - this did not start happening until about the mid-1970's.^

That is not true.

My state primary (junior school) had a uniform of grey pinafore dress, white blouse, red tie and navy cardigan in the 1950s. Not as strict as the Grammar Schools which had to be purchased from a specific supplier but could be obtained from a draper's shop in town.

My state primary also had a uniform. Grey square neck gymslip, white shirt, green and silver tie, green cardigan

Our little primary school had no uniform so anything went.
I had two cousins just slightly older than me who went to a convent school in Ireland so I wore their outgrown gymslips, blouses, sash etc! Can you imagine kids nowadays putting up with that? The teacher always complimented my Mum on how well turned out I was.

I can’t remember getting teased or anything. Mind you it was a poor rural community and the other kids mostly went in an odd hotch potch of scruffy clothes, plimsoles or wellies. They were very happy days though.

I have photos of my brother and I visiting Santa. He is in school uniform. I think it was considered smart attire. We didn't wear it at weekends.

We changed from school uniform as soon as we arrived home from shool.

I think boys often wore school uniform on more formal occasions like church, girls not. They would wear their best dress, matching hat and coat.

In the 1980s I helped with the Brownie group DDs belonged to. Several times I went with them on the week's summer holiday Brown Owl organised. The brownies wore their fill uniform on the coach journey there and back. The brownie cotton dress, leather belt, yellow tie and brown pull on hat.
When we arrived at the village hall where the girls slept indoors on camp beds they had brought with them, Brown Owl had provided a rack of brown shorts, yellow tee shirts and I suppose a jumper. Assorted sizes, but all the girls were pretty much the same size. No child was overweight. And thats what they wore during the week unless we had a day trip out when they wore their uniform again.
I thought then and do now how inclusive it was. No child had better clothes. They were only allowed a small amount of pocket money to spend on the sweets selection Brown Owl bought with her for them to choose each afternoon.
Such a simple holiday. No phones. No bullying. No boasting. Just good fun. I was cook for 30 children and they all ate what they were given. I have very fond memories of it. And how simple it was for the parents packing. Just nightwear, underwear, camp bed and sleeping bag. Brilliant. I still have DDs brown tunics and belts packed away somewhere.