Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

In reply to Peter Melvyn,I agree"boys would not take kindly to compulsory grey shorts with long socks".
At the secondary school that I attended,the wearing of short trousers was not compulsory and there was no stipulation of the boy's age that he could wear shorts,so some like-minded parents would keep their sons in short trousers until they left school.
The shorts that I wore were similar to the ones you describe and in particular,were very brief coming well above my knees to leave virtually all of my thighs exposed to the elements.
Although I disliked being in the minority in shorts my parents relished the spectacle of seeing a teenager coming to terms and getting accustomed to wearing short pants as I grew older.

It seems that there are different types of shorts according to the sport, where basketball players wear long baggy shorts and rugby players brief tighter shorts. Many suppliers of uniform state "Bermuda" style school shorts which reach down to the knee or below. There are also Cargo shorts that have external patch type pockets. Looking at photos of me at 11 years old many years ago my grey shorts were very brief with much of my thigh showing. There are still prep schools that require short trousers to 13 years. I doubt if many boys at secondary schools now would take kindly to compulsory grey shorts with long socks. But fashions do change and short trousers may make a come back.

I agree with Arby and Sam. Most 6th formers were wearing a jockstrap (athletic support) for sport when I was at school. I read somewhere that these compression shorts are more restrictive, somewhat weightier, and not as good at dispelling heat. What a shame youngsters can't see beyond 'fashion'!

I agree with Sam Martin that the Litesome jockstrap was not hideous. It was very comfortable and sensible. I wore one through the 6th form and beyond. Cannot understand why they died out. Hopefully the jockstrap may come back before long.I agree that compression shorts are not as good.

So those are the shorts I see hanging down under football shorts. I though that they were some form of thermal underwear badly designed. I did not realise that they were to
give support.

How times and fashions change. I suppose it is because youngsters these days do not like to wear under or support that is designed like briefs or slips.

Pleased to hear that the litesome Jock strap has made a comeback.From a biological view it makes sense to wear such a support especially in adolescents.

Andrea - There's a report this year of another school which introduced 'gender neutral' dress regs - long trouysers or skirts - shorts are banned.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/chiltern-edge-school-uniform-policy-trousers-skirts-shorts-ban-a8382336.html

In an age where shorts are becoming more 'standard' wear for men (at least in summer) it seems that some people are still set in their ways: I only wish I could get away with them on the few few summer days I have to wear them!

Frank S

The Litesome jock wasn't hideous if you wore the right size. Nothing beats a jockstrap for comfort in sport, in my opinion. Lads today look rather absurd with their compression shorts hanging down from under their shorts!!

At least one school decided to introduce shorts as optional summer uniform:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/23/school-boys-wore-skirts-protest-introduce-shorts-summer-uniform/

Sam Martin, you are right about the jockstrap returning. My son wears them for sport mainly because his mates do at school. In my day it had disappeared. Just remmber my dad wearing a Litesome .. hideous looking thing ! Fashion rules the day hey!

Andrea

I remember reading that too, not sure of the outcome. You?

Andrea

I remember reading that too, not sure of the outcome. You?

I don't recall the wearing of short trousers being popular with my contemporaries at school.For the few who wore shorts were cast aside and were ridiculed.
I would have preferred to wear the longer style of shorts,but my parents had a preference for the short shorts which I didn't like wearing because they were chilly in cold weather and I was subjected to more teasing.

Following on from Peter's comments, I recall reading about a couple of schools where some of the boys had threatened to turn up at school wearing skirts as a protest about the girls having an option other than long trousers in hot weather!

I have seen the articles in the papers that older boys in in years years 8 onwards want to wear shorts in the summer, and my son is one of them. But as the previous writer stated I hope they are not the"long shorts" below the knee. But reasonably short and tailored

Peter that is an interesting observation!Certainly the trend is for shorts again plus the postmen are good ambassadors of the cause.Once youngsters see their elders wearing shorts regularly they will not feel it unusual.Can I put a plug in for Albert Prendergast whose Vintage schoolwear can be found on the internet.He does mail order from his Buxton based firm I can recommend his Adult size shorts.

Peter,although the wearing of short trousers was ubiquitous in the seventies and eighties the tradition gradually'died away'when schools discontinued the compulsory wearing of short trousers at school,although,at my secondary school,boys were allowed to wearing shorts if their parents so desired.
It was a requirement by my parents that my school uniform and my best suit shorts should be short and trim,much to my annoyance.
I didn't like wearing shorts up to 16,but I never considered knee length shorts an option,as it would have been preferable to wear long trousers instead of ridiculous short trousers.

I also remember wearing short trousers until midway through the Second Form (Year 8) and I suppose I must have worn long socks as well

Peter Davis
Funny how fashions do full circles. Even the good old jockstrap (Litesome ... in my school days) is making a comeback

It is interesting to read about school uniform for boys and how short trousers gradually died out. I recall my London grammar school wearing grey shorts until the 3rd. form and we also had to wear long socks with the school colours on the turnover top. Up to 12 years old I also had a short trousers suit for weekends. I now see that in some schools boys complain about long trousers in hot weather and want to wear shorts. Some schools have now again added grey short trousers to their uniform list. On Ebay there are several suppliers for grey shorts up to 16 years. So it seems we have gone the complete circle and older boys will be back into short trousers, and even maybe long socks! I only hope the shorts will be short and above the knees and not over the knees.

Tony,I do remember the specifications of my short trousers;I took a 26" waist and the requirements of my shorts were that they had an inseam leg of 2".
My mother had no problem finding short trousers for me as I grew older as I had a narrow waist.
I agree,I felt silly wearing shorts,but I had to conform to my mother's wishes.

James I understand about how you felt silly having to wear shorts when most other lads wore longs. It was the same for me. Do you remember your mothers exact specifications?

@Claire at my school, gym class was always done fully clothed. Boys did not even go shirtless for shirts and skins. However the rules were much more relxed for after school activities, it was a common sight to see the cross country and track team strip down to minimal attire - many girls in just sports bras/shorts and most of the boys completely bare chest.

It was never a problem finding short trousers that would fit me properly as I grew older.
Boys of my age had usually been promoted to wearing long trousers and I often felt silly wearing my brief shorts that had the specifications to my mother's requirements.

Tony,good to hear of yet another lad who was forced to wear short trousers into their early teens!I was reasonably tall for my age at 12 and 13 the fourth tallest in my year I would say.This was reflected when choosing sides for the 🏉 rugby teams!I played the position of prop more often than not and the shorter lad would get fly half.

I wore grey shorts in secondary school until about 14. Being short at that time for my age I was not deemed big enough to wear longs. One of the problems with the shorts was that they were not really made for my age and so yes they were short and tight which also meant underwear was also uncomfortable. After much persistence I was allowed longs.

Hi Frank,thank you for your reply,I had to wear short trousers slightly longer than yourself,until I was 15 in the fourth form.
At that age peer pressure was tremendous and with about 400 boys in long trousers,nearly all younger then myself,I felt very isolated.
When I pointed this out to my mother and explained that I was the only only boy still in short trousers and other boys of my age were in long trousers she replied"you are not any other boy and you will remain in short trousers.
Certainly the style of shorts were getting considerably shorter as I grew older and another popular brand was'David Luke'.

Newcomer here, thoroughly enjoying reading the variety of PE clothing experiences. Although topless PE was obviously fairly widespread for boys in the past, does anyone have any experience of schools where girls PE kit was shorts plus sports bra, with shirt optional? My daughter was at school around the time of the London Olympics, and the sight of female athletes competing in just bra-tops and shorts led her and some of her friends to campaign, ultimately unsuccessfully, for similar freedom in PE classes.

Hi James I spent the first and second year in shorts aged 12to13 September1973 late 13 I progressed to long trousers I had some local friends same age and they were in long trousers a good eighteen months before me and coming round to my house regularly my mother realised I didn't want to feel left out.My first black ones for school were from Marks and Sparks!I was aware of Trutex and Banner as rival brands it was dependent on where your parents shopped regularly.There was a branch i8in Altrincham our nearest large town.

Frank,thank you for your reply,my short trousers were the Trutex brand.They were a very popular brand especially for mothers who preferred the shorter style of shorts particularly for younger boys.
What age were you promoted to long trousers?