In the past, school aprons represented tradition and uniformity in the classroom. Many people associate them with well-groomed classmates who adhered to rigid school regulations. However, just as times change, so too do our opinions on school uniforms.
Both parents and kids are looking for greater self-expression freedom in the modern world. Kids now use their wardrobe choices as a major platform to express their uniqueness. Although it used to be required, the school apron seems out of style and superfluous.
It’s time to move on to a future where students are free to dress in ways that express their individuality and creativity, and to let school aprons live on in photo albums as a memento of the past.
| Why school aprons became history | How school uniforms have changed |
| School aprons were once a staple in many countries, mainly to protect clothes and promote uniformity. However, over time, they became outdated and associated with a rigid, old-fashioned education system. | Today, school uniforms have evolved. They are more comfortable and practical, focusing on simplicity and allowing students to feel more at ease. Aprons have been replaced by modern uniforms that reflect the current needs of children. |
Is it worth dressing up in a Soviet school uniform for the "Last Bell"?
After exchanging glances, the saleswomen put on their clothes. By the tenth floor, I was feeling hopeless.
– You see, I wanted something like a pioneer uniform – a simple pleated skirt, a white blouse.
"You know what?" shouted Katya. Turn left by the elevator to reach the "Intim" store on the first floor, where you can find what you need.
"Are you sure?" I inquired once more, deeply taken aback by the peculiar moniker of the department that sold children’s clothes.
– Go, go, – Sveta ordered, – only there, Katyukha is right.We made the return journey, found a pavilion with a curtained door, went inside, and I was stunned.
Everything is obvious: rude salespeople sent us to a sex shop after deciding to make fun of unprofitable clients.
– Come on, I told Miranda, we"ve come to the wrong place.
Occasionally, a boy wearing a "Consultant Victor" badge leaped out from behind the counter. He said, "Don’t be shy, say what you need."
– No, no, we are clearly not here for you, I wanted to buy clothes for a girl, like a pioneer uniform.
Victor begged, "Please," tossing a plain white blouse and a pleated skirt in a dark blue color onto the counter. I was astounded:
– Well, well! This is what you need.
The man grinned and said, "I told you, I have everything. I have knee socks, shoes, and a tie. Do you think you’re the only fan?"
– A tie is unnecessary, – I muttered, watching Miranda, tangling in her dress, go to the fitting room.
Victor smiled and said, "A lot of people like it. Then take nylon bows; they look cool too."
Miranda started to resemble my classmates in the seventh year of study thirty minutes later.
Daria Dontsova, "A Bouquet of Beautiful Ladies"
School aprons, which were formerly associated with tradition and uniformity, are relics of the past that are only seen in old pictures and recollections. Students today flourish in environments that are more creative and adaptable, where individual expression is encouraged over strict dress codes. The time has come to let go of school aprons as a must-have item for a contemporary education and to embrace change by letting kids wear clothes that express their uniqueness.
A small excursion into my own photo album
There is a theory that the Soviet school uniform originated from the clothes worn by maids in respectable homes prior to the revolution. It’s highly likely because the guidelines stated that you should appear modest, tidy (you could quickly change your apron in place of washing your dress if needed), and indicate your hostess’s social standing so that none of the guests mistakenly think she’s a young woman and begin courting her.
Already in the eighties of the last century (when the older generation of Sibmama, including the author of these lines, studied at school) the uniform for girls was hopelessly outdated. There was no longer a need for an apron – no one risked tipping an inkwell on themselves. In cold weather, it was difficult to "warm up" in a dress, and it was completely impossible to achieve comfort on a warm day. A half-woolen dress was difficult to wash, and even more difficult to dry in a single day off, because not every family had a washing machine with a centrifuge, and there were no dryers at all. Forced untidiness was masked by sewing white cuffs and collars to a stale dress, on which any dirt was even more visible ..
Now that many readers have a clear memory of all the issues surrounding the uniform, perhaps they will sigh in relief as they recall the last time they wore a school dress—for the "Last Bell." Let go of the collars and aprons! The Soviet school uniform has emerged from obscurity twenty years later as a peculiar, unattractive, and in some cases downright offensive "tradition." This makes it all the more surprising.
The USSR school uniform and school dresses for the final bell are from the Novosibirsk factory "Elite Classic" and the Moscow factory "Otlichnitsa."
Girls "from the film"
It is now impossible to pinpoint which girl, who has never worn the iconic brown semi-woolen dress even for a day, had the bright notion to raid the closet and put on their mother’s uniform. The fact that contemporary schoolgirls have never worn it for a single day is what matters. They view it as a gaming feature rather than as apparel. At the "last bell," a somber day is transformed into a theatrical production in which a schoolgirl assumes the part of a schoolgirl. And to be honest, it goes horribly wrong for a lot of people.
The school uniform was never shortened to super-mini; it was a uniform, not a carnival costume! didn’t pair them with high-heeled shoes! She most certainly lacked a cleavage!
The last bell at a school in Sverdlovsk, 1968 and at a school in Abakan, 2010. WikipediaClick on the photo to enlarge
In an attempt to project the image of "diligent students," the girls actually end up playing the lead roles in an entirely different role-playing game: their knee-high socks and excessively elaborate bows, more appropriate for first graders, allude to innocence and inexperience, make them attractive to men, and show that they are willing to bid both innocence and inexperience farewell right away.
It comes out as obscene, foolish, and uncomfortable. Shall we take off the mini and stilettos? Alright, it looks really awkward and foolish. "Nickettiness, modesty, and asexuality" became their antithesis.
Pictures of graduates chosen at random from the Internet. To view the larger image, click on it.
Although school aprons used to be a common sight in everyday life, they now seem like a thing of the past. Even though they may have sentimental value, as contemporary school uniforms change, their usefulness has diminished.
Youngsters today have greater fashion freedom, which reflects developments in education and society. We are welcoming a future that prioritizes individuality over antiquated customs by doing away with aprons.
School aprons should remain in their rightful place in old photo albums, where they belong, but let’s concentrate on more significant ways to encourage students’ development and self-expression in the present.
