# Why do Catholic school girls have to wear plaid skirts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2008, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427 "2008-05-15T13:42:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/21 "2008-05-15T16:15:20Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Well, sure. But I think it probably works the other way 'round. If Catholic School Girls wore Burqahs, Burqahs would be damn sexy! šŸ˜ƒ Yeah, :dubious: I mean, look at her, sheā€™s got a great pair of eyes ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/22 "2008-05-15T16:56:21Z")
The plaid hides pecker tracks better. No condoms, yā€™know. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/23 "2008-05-15T18:31:12Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] [QUOTE=WhyNot] Well, sure. But I think it probably works the other way 'round. If Catholic School Girls wore Burqahs, Burqahs would be damn sexy! šŸ˜ƒ Yeah, :dubious: I mean, look at her, sheā€™s got a great pair of eyes [/QUOTE] You speak the truth. I will write on that sometime. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/24 "2008-05-15T19:07:09Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] You speak the truth. I will write on that sometime. [/QUOTE] All kidding aside, Iā€™d love to read that. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/25 "2008-05-15T19:36:54Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] I think one of the rationales for uniforms is the prevention of rich kids wearing expensive clothes which might demoralize poor kidsā€¦ [/QUOTE] So the idea is to demoralize _ **all** _ the girls by forcing them to wear plaid? Personally Iā€™d rather wear poor clothes. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/26 "2008-05-15T20:02:42Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] So the idea is to demoralize _ **all** _ the girls by forcing them to wear plaid? Personally Iā€™d rather wear poor clothes. [/QUOTE] I had an aunt, who was going to high school during the depression. She was brilliant. When the physics teacherā€™s unleashed his first big test, the entire class failed. She got 100%. She was similarly scoring staright Aā€™s galore in all ther subjects. But she dropped out of school. The other girls made fun of her because she had to wear the very same dress every single day. Are you the one who thanked President Bush for the money gave you for your Kindle? ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/27 "2008-05-15T20:28:31Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] So the idea is to demoralize _ **all** _ the girls by forcing them to wear plaid? Personally Iā€™d rather wear poor clothes. [/QUOTE] Why would you say plaid in demoralizing? Everyone knows itā€™s a uniform skirt, itā€™s not like you go to the store after school and people laugh because you think plaid is in fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/28 "2008-05-15T20:38:48Z")
[QUOTE=sugar and spice] Why would you say plaid in demoralizing? Everyone knows itā€™s a uniform skirt, itā€™s not like you go to the store after school and people laugh because you think plaid is in fashion. [/QUOTE] I donā€™t get that eitherā€¦I think itā€™s less about demoralizing than it is about democratizing. That is, if everyoneā€™s clothes are the same, it helps eliminate a distraction and, as mentioned, reduces the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Which to me shows that adults forget how high school girls notice details like shoes and purses! ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/29 "2008-05-15T20:50:38Z")
[QUOTE=Tristan] The obvious answer is because itā€™s AWESOME. /fetish [/QUOTE] Word. Have to wear them? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/30 "2008-05-15T20:56:07Z")
[QUOTE=sugar and spice] Why would you say plaid in demoralizing? Everyone knows itā€™s a uniform skirt, itā€™s not like you go to the store after school and people laugh because you think plaid is in fashion. [/QUOTE] I guess I should have put in the šŸ™‚ (I didnā€™t think it was necessary.) I actually have several plaid shirts, myself. I do think the ones they typically wear, though, are a little ā€œbusyā€ in the plaidness. Oh, before I forget: šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/31 "2008-05-15T21:12:19Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] I donā€™t get that eitherā€¦I think itā€™s less about demoralizing than it is about democratizing. That is, if everyoneā€™s clothes are the same, it helps eliminate a distraction and, as mentioned, reduces the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Which to me shows that adults forget how high school girls notice details like shoes and purses! [/QUOTE] Iā€™m fully aware of that particular reason for uniforms, in private schools, at least. In L.A. public middle schools (in certain areas where just about everyone is poor), itā€™s to prevent expression of gang affiliation. Maybe they should change to plaid skirts too. But still, Iā€™d like to know how the whole plaid thing got started. [QUOTE=sugar and spice] My Catholic high school let us choose between solid or plaid. The solid was polyester, the plaid was wool. [/QUOTE] Thatā€™s a tough decision at such a tender age. I hope you didnā€™t have summer school. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/32 "2008-05-15T21:21:13Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] That is, if everyoneā€™s clothes are the same, it helps eliminate a distraction and, as mentioned, reduces the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Which to me shows that adults forget how high school girls notice details like shoes and purses! [/QUOTE] Exactly. We competed on the basis of knee socks, bookbags, shoes, and gym clothes. Or I should say, some kids competed and I just lost. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/33 "2008-05-15T21:56:49Z")
_nevermind, iā€™m done here_ ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/34 "2008-05-15T21:59:55Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] I think one of the rationales for uniforms is the prevention of rich kids wearing expensive clothes which might demoralize poor kids. {Thereā€™s a better word for ā€˜preventionā€™ but it escapes me at the moment .} [/QUOTE] I imagine it would also be easier to create a dress code when everyone is wearing pretty much the same thing. Our school didnā€™t start uniforms until I was in fourth grade-before that, you just had to wear dressy clothes. At least when I was in school, girls could wear pants (solid navy or grey) if you wished. We were supposed to wear skirts/jumpers on church days, but thatā€™s it. (Oh, and our plaid was really fugly, and the material was this really stiff, cheap polyester.) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/35 "2008-05-15T22:24:32Z")
hmmm, the catholic schools in my area didnā€™t have skirts. they had jumpers, or sheath dresses with blouses. of the schools in a 5 block area, 2 had plaid, 2 had 1 colour. one had that odd skirt/pinnafore combo. there were crisscross panels attached to a pleated plaid skirt. of the 5, 4 had white shirts on the boys and girls, 1 had yellow shirts that went with the solid green of the pants and jumpers. there is only one elementry school left in the neighbourhood. they changed the uniform about 10 years ago. they went from the yellow and green combo to a navy/grey plaid skirt or solid navy pants. thankfully i went to public schools and wore jeans, turtlenecks or tees, and sneakers mostly. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/36 "2008-05-15T22:34:19Z")
Itā€™s gotta be a **skirt,** at any rate, or there would be no point to the high-gloss patent-leather shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/37 "2008-05-15T22:35:21Z")
[aside]The only thing hotter than Catholic School Girl uniforms is Japanese School Girl uniforms! _arguable fetish_[/aside] ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/38 "2008-05-15T22:35:40Z")
Since it doesnā€™t seem a definitive answer is likely to be forthcoming at this point, and we have mainly entered the realm of anecdote and opinion, perhaps a move to IMHO is in order. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/39 "2008-05-15T23:16:23Z")
The good: Youtube has a clip of ā€œCatholic High School Girls in Troubleā€ from Kentucky Fried Movie. The bad: Itā€™s heavily edited. The ugly: Itā€™s HEAVILY edited. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYUojkKPM4) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2008, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427/40 "2008-05-15T23:47:25Z")
[QUOTE=guizot] But still, Iā€™d like to know how the whole plaid thing got started. [/QUOTE] I think **sugar and spice** ā€™s WAG is probably pretty close to the truth: [QUOTE=sugar and spice] WAG: A patterned fabric is going to show smudges and snags less than a solid color print, and those skirts donā€™t get washed every day. Traditionally these skirts were made of wool, AFAIK wool fabrics are not commonly printed, so that leaves plaid which is woven into the fabric. [/QUOTE] If the uniforms were styled after a kilt, which is practical and durableā€¦well, kilts and plaid go together like Catholic schoolgirls and pervy male fantasies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-catholic-school-girls-have-to-wear-plaid-skirts/449427.md?page=3)