School Uniform

As the school is named after the famous family of astronomers, it seemed only natural to the first head mistress, Miss Morley Ralph, to brand our uniform with the distinct blue it is. Evolved from the blue of the skies as the first stars come out, it can be said that this unique blue can be identified as “Herschel blue”.

Another aspect of the uniform that has barely changed since the founding days is the summer dress. Miss Ralph “never allowed Herschel Girls to wear the hot, stuffy gym tunics” which was then favoured by the government schools, and determined that navy serge was therefore the most unpractical material for clothes in the South African summer. This is why cotton is used for our dresses. Originally based on the “athletics” dress, this eventually became the regular school uniform. Besides the belt no longer going all the way around, there have been no other major changes to our dress. In the 1920s, the cotton was bought from Pearce’s in Claremont and was standard, as variations were frowned upon.

Mrs Bruyns, the Herschel dressmaker, would then make the dresses. Loved by all the girls and extremely talented, as she could fit “even the most awkwardly shaped girls into a dress”, she worked at the school until she had to move away due to the Group Areas Act of 1950. The summer uniform also included a panama hat, which was worn until 1979. 

1992 School dress next to present day dress.
(Photo taken: Herschel Girls School archives on the 25th of
September 2012 at 11.35am)

Unlike the favourable summer attire, the winter uniform was a dreary blue serge dress with a black velour hat. Primary classes wore brown shoes and socks with it, while senior classes wore brown lisle (cotton) stockings held up by suspenders. These were very uncomfortable as they dug into one’s waist and were very tight. The infamous blue knickers were worn over. These “formidable garments” had elastic threaded into a broad double seam around the waist and each leg and were not readily attainable when needed.

For formal and special occasions, a 30 Shilling silk dress with a Peter Pan collar was worn. Having no set pattern, there were huge variations in these dresses and girls looked very mixed and matched during these occasions. One of these dresses can even be found in the archives.

The dress used for formal occasions and the Panama hat.
(Photo taken Herschel Girls School archives 

on the 25^th of September 2012 at 11.40am)

At this early time in our school’s history, there was no blazer or school badge, but a blue cardigan was used in the cool spring months. The cardigan had to be ordered from the Rely-On knitting company in Cape Town. The badge was only designed and incorporated in 1934. Miss Robinson, the second Headmistress of Herschel (1930-1939), sought permission from Sir John Herschel, grandson of our founder, to include part of the Herschel family crest. Sir John was very pleased that his family crest was being used as he agreed that it would “create and keep up that association as a tradition in the minds of the scholars”. It was from this that the “Herschel H” was created, a combination of the family initial and the symbol for Uranus. Originally, the badge was to be on the blue blazers and the hatbands, but it now also present on our school and sports bags and many pieces of our uniform. In 1935, the Herschel badge could be worn by old Herschelians on a white blazer, as to distinguish them from Herschel’s blue blazer. Another long desired badge was a prefect badge. This was introduced in 1929 and was a silver circle enclosing the letters “HPS”. Neatly tied back hair is now the norm, but long hair had to be plaited and tied with a brown ribbon from the 1920s to the 1930s.

The initial design for the Herschel badge.
(Photo taken from: Robinson, Harriet. 1934. The Herschel Badge. 

The Herschelian, volume 9: 42. November 1934.)

 Preparatory uniform is mostly similar to senior uniform but in March 1973 there was a dramatic change in the junior uniform. The girls were allowed to wear the then fashionable “slack-suits”. They were drip-dry track suits that were navy in colour. These slack suits did not last very long as in 1990 the skirt was restored in favour and track suits were introduced for casual wear.

The preparatory “slack suits”.
(Photo taken Herschel Girls School archives 

on the 25^th of September 11:31am.)

Herschel’s uniform today has not changed remarkably since 1922. The summer uniform in both the junior and senior school consists of the “Herschel blue” cotton dress, a matching blue blazer, a fawn v-necked jersey, opaque pantyhose (formal uniform) or fawn cotton ankle socks (informal uniform). 

Formal winter uniform in the junior school includes the blazer, a matching skirt, a fawn v-necked jersey, a fawn long or short sleeved cotton shirt pantyhose and/or long fawn cotton socks. Informal uniform includes a navy fleece, matching navy trousers, a fawn cotton long or short sleeved shirt and a fawn scarf is optional.

Not only does our uniform brand us as Herschel Girls and unite us as a school, but it is also a link to our past. While buildings have been knocked down and built up, swimming pools remodelled and the continuous evolution and development of our school, the uniform has stayed constant. The trademark “Herschel Blue” dress is a symbol of Herschel and unites girls over generations, starting from the founding days. As students, teachers and principals come and go, the characteristic apparel is a constant reminder of our heritage and school unity.