An Eton Suit from the 1950s

Photographs of actual garments from a private costume collection

The smart Eton suit featured in the illustration above, taken from an Edwardian department store catalogue, was still going strong fifty years later, being worn by boys at Eton College and some other leading public schools, as well as being the official dress of pupils at many choir schools. The garments in the photographs on this page were in use at a cathedral choir school where the gleaming white Eton collar also served as a 'choir collar', worn with cassock and surplice in place of a ruff.

There had always been occasional grumbling amongst the choristers at the school regarding the discomfort of the starched Eton collars, which all too often presented a sharp edge to the neck which might be likened to a hacksaw blade! However, in those more formal days smartness and tradition were considered to be more important than any minor considerations of comfort and it was not until the 1960s that this particular choir school finally abandoned Eton suits and the accompanying stiff collars.