A brief history of a cardigan as a student uniform
Although cardigans have been around since the 7th century, they only recently became an integral part of school uniforms throughout the world in the 1900s. Historians mainly attribute their proliferation to the French fashion designer Coco Chanel, who urged people, especially women, to use cardigans by saying, “I hate how tight-necked men’s sweaters mess up my hair when I pull them over my head.” People saw the logic in Coco’s point and gave cardigan sweaters a chance.
That was back in the 1930s. During that decade, cardigans became popular in Europe, especially among college students. In the upcoming decades, cardigans proliferated as an integral uniform piece around the world for students of all academic levels — from kindergarten up to college-level academia. Since the cardigan is an English invention, mandatory school uniforms which consist of jumpers, trousers, and skirts from age 5 are no surprise. Perhaps at times, teachers do go overboard with strictness when it comes to school uniforms, but they teach young pupils about dress code and convey a sense of discipline.
Contemporary uniform trends
Nowadays, cardigans are a symbol of scholastic life not only in Europe but also in many Asian countries, among which the most notable ones are Japan, China, and the Philippines. We are all familiar with the Catholic schoolgirl uniform and Harry Potter’s costume. That look of an elegantly uniformed student has been a standard for decades.
Why did cardigans remain a garment of choice for student uniforms?
You may be wondering now, apart from Coco’s recommendation, what other factors contributed to the success of cardigans? Well, there are several contributing factors, but the main one is because they are one of, if not the most useful garments in the world. Here are four reasons why.
- They can be worn year-round: Whether the season is Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter, cardigans can come in use. For instance, they are the perfect complement to a strapless dress on a cool summer evening and an ideal top layer on a frigid winter day. Put another way, cardigans are versatile, which is exactly why they are an indispensable part of school uniforms.
- They can help us dress up or down an outfit: Whether you have an outfit that you need to dress up or dress down for an evening out, a cardigan can come in handy. For instance, a cardigan can be thrown over a sleeveless garment to dress up an outfit and a plain cardigan works well for dressing down an outfit that is a bit too fancy for the occasion. That is why most students buy cardigans even if they’re not a mandatory part of their school uniform.
- They work well for every silhouette: No matter what body silhouette you are, a cardigan will fit you well. For instance, fitted cardigans complement people with an Hourglass, Standard body silhouette, and cardigans with open ends are ideal for those with a Teardrop, H body silhouette. So there’s a cardigan for everyone.
- They are so easy to put on that even kids as young as 5 have no problems with putting them on and taking them off with ease. Lightweight cardigan
Popular school uniform cardigans for boys
Please click on the image for sizing and pricing info. Most school uniform cardigans are machine washable but please do pay attention to the manufacturer’s care instructions.
| Style | Example | Fabric/Yarn |
|---|---|---|
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Kid Nation Boys V-Neck Color Block Cardigan | 100% Soft Cotton. Machine washable. |
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CLASSROOM Boys’ Uniform Cardigan Sweater | 100% Acrylic, Machine washable. |
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French Toast Boys’ Anti-Pill V-Neck Cardigan Sweater | 100% Acrylic |
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Hope & Henry Boys’ Cardigan Sweater |
100% Organic Cotton, exclusive of trims. Garment is 100% GOTS-Certified Organic. Machine washable. |
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Classroom School Uniforms Kids’ Cardigan Sweater | 100% Acrylic, Machine washable. |
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Sooxiwood Little Boys Cardigan Coat V-Neck Striped | Cotton Blend |
Popular school uniform cardigans for girls
| Style | Example | Fabric/Yarn |
|---|---|---|
  |
BOBOYOYO Girls Cardigan Kids School Uniform | 100% natural cotton. Machine washable. |
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SMILING PINKER Girls Cardigan Sweater School Uniforms | 70% Polyester, 30% Cotton |
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ROLECOS Girls Japanese Knit Cardigan Candy Color School Uniform Sweater | Lightweight and stretchy knitted fabric |
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The Children’s Place Girls’ Uniform Cardigan Sweater | 100% Cotton, machine washable. |
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GRACE KARIN Girls Essential Soft Knit Uniforms Button Down Cardigan | Soft fabric construction |
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Tommy Hilfiger Cardigan Sweater, Kids School Uniform Clothes for Little Or Big Girls | 40% Rayon, 40% Nylon, 20% Cotton |
Some final thoughts on school uniform cardigans
So, if we were to explain the reasons why cardigans became an integral part of school uniforms in a nutshell, it would be because they are timeless, versatile, and practical. They are also easily monogrammed and regardless of their color when worn collectively in a group, they radiate with that distinct elegance. Keeping all that in mind, it’s no wonder why cardigans have gained so much popularity in the last century. It would be no surprise to us if they continue being a mandatory part of school uniforms around the world for not the upcoming years or decades, but centuries.
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