Are Polo’s Making a Comeback? School Uniforms for Fall.

Wednesday 07th of July 2010 07:57:58 PM

Trends are changing for the school uniform. For the past five years the school uniform has been undergoing a huge style shift – from the buttoned down prep school look to the more casual logo t-shirt and khaki look. However, parents and students at many schools this year will experience another trend shift… to the cotton polo shirt.

The logo t-shirt became a uniform staple in many schools as uniforms were introduced to the public sector. The simple, casual, and comfortable tee helped the general public accept the school uniform concept. “When school uniforms were introduced in our school students and parents were unforgiving. They rebelled. We worked to create a uniform that was not too different from what they were used to while still getting the overall results we desired,” says Jody Fults.

As guidance counselor of his Alabama high school, Fults played a major role in the implementation of the original uniform policy. He feels the t-shirt with a school logo was an excellent uniform choice and served as a bridge in preparing students and parents for this year’s change to cotton polo shirts. Students in his school will don polo shirts in a choice of two colors with the school logo over the right breast this year. And, according to Fults, the change has occurred with little negative response from students and parents.

Does this trend mean t-shirts will be on the outs across schools? No, says Fults. T-shirts are still an important part of his school uniform kit. “At meetings this spring I found other schools making the same move. We wanted to make our school uniform dressier but t-shirts are still required for gym and for other events,” explained Fults.

Fults is not alone. Schools across the country are changing uniform codes this fall. Many schools are offering cotton polo shirts as an additional option to t-shirts or button down shirts. Some schools are requiring all students wear polo shirts.