From Aprons to Leggings and Back: How School Fashion Changed in Russia

Until 1948, there was no school uniform in the USSR. Pupils wore what their parents could provide them, the exception was a pioneers' uniform. At regular schools, it was simplified to light shirts, dark blue skirts, shorts or trousers and red ties.

After the introduction of the uniform in 1948, boys had to wear gray military-like shirts with gray trousers. Girls received brown dresses with black or white aprons that tied in a bow at the back. Even schoolgirls’ hair had to meet the formal requirements: only short haircuts or braids were allowed.
Later, this uniform proved insufficiently practical: in terms of using ink and fountain pens, blots on the sleeves became an inevitable companion of schoolchildren. In 1954, some changes in the boys’ uniform were made, for example, a steel blue shirt was introduced.

In 1962, boys were dressed in gray wool suits with four buttons; the girls’ uniform remained the same.
At PE classes, Soviet schoolchildren wore t-shirts, shorts and simple sports shoes – usually all in black.

The uniform became less military-like. Boys got a single-breasted jacket with three buttons; trousers were made of fabric to match the jacket’s color. In hot weather, kids were allowed to wear short breeches and shorts.
In the second half of the seventies, clothes for high school students were updated. In hot weather, it was allowed for schoolgirls to wear dresses with short sleeves.

Boys had to wear a new blue jacket with epaulets and pockets on top of a one-color light shirt. General requirements for the appearance, including the hairstyles, remained the same.

In fact, compulsory school uniforms were abolished in 1991 when the Soviet enterprises producing it closed down. Officially, they were cancelled three years later, when very few people still wore it, as it was completely out of the stores for several years.

After the cancellation of the uniform, pupils began to dress up each in his (or her) own way.
Colorful sweaters, jeans and jumpsuits became especially trendy; high school girls started wearing colorful tights and leggings.

In the 90s, children received significantly larger opportunities for self-expression. It concerned not only clothes, but also different school supplies, such as backpacks, pencil cases and notebooks.

In order to raise the discipline of pupils, in some Russian schools, uniforms were introduced again.
A unified uniform for Russian schools and educational institutions has not yet been defined. Although, a unified style for school uniforms is mandatory for students within each school.