School Uniforms and Gender Expression in London

The first time I saw the school uniforms for girls in London, I was momentarily speechless.

Yes, that is indeed an official school skirt, marked by the blue stripe. And yes, it barely covers anything! Nobody is pulling it up to their ears; they all just wear it this way. Bare legs in the cold and rain? That's a classic look here.

But almost instantly, I thought, this is really cool! It was like a revelation for me—I realized that here, girls aren't forced to wear knee-length skirts. Instead, it seems that the schools promote a broader understanding of gender expression.

That girl with the torn tights is my role model!

And just to clarify, there is clearly a choice available for everyone. For example, you can opt for a longer skirt with dark tights or even trousers.