For all classes:
* Practicality was key: Clothes needed to be durable and withstand rough play. This often meant sturdy fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool. Elaborate ornamentation was less common than in adult wear.
Working-class children:
* Simple, functional clothing: These children often wore simple cotton dresses (girls) or trousers and shirts (boys), possibly patched and mended. Their clothes were plain and likely made from inexpensive materials. Shoes might be simple leather or even clogs. They may have lacked outer garments like coats, especially in warmer weather.
Middle-class children:
* More refined but still practical: Girls generally wore simple cotton or wool dresses, often with aprons. They might have had a pinafore or overall dress for extra protection. Boys usually wore trousers, shirts, and jackets made of slightly finer materials than working-class children. They may have had a school cap or hat.
Upper-class children:
* More stylish and elaborate: Girls' attire might include more intricate dresses, possibly with embellishments. Boys' clothes were similar in style to their fathers' but scaled down in size, possibly including knickerbockers (loose-fitting breeches gathered at the knee). Better quality fabrics like fine wool or linen were common. They would likely have had a more formal coat and perhaps a hat or cap.
Regardless of class:
* Dark colors were prevalent: Darker colours like brown, navy, or black were preferred for their ability to hide dirt.
* Simple footwear: Shoes were essential, but highly decorative or fashionable footwear wasn't typically seen for daily school wear.
* No specialized uniforms: Unlike today, dedicated school uniforms were not as widespread then, though some schools might have had a basic dress code.
It's important to note that the picture is complex. A farmer's child might wear rougher clothing than a shopkeeper's child, even if both were considered working class. Variations also existed based on region and the weather. Pictures and descriptions from the period offer a glimpse, but there was substantial variation in what Victorian children wore to school.