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Whereas school uniforms or actually any kind of uniformity does have a rather negative connotation in western European countries, our northern neighbours in Scandinavia developed their very own tradition. In many different colours they do appear on mainly Swedish student’s bodies. They are called “students overalls” and do indeed resemble typical working clothes or boiler suits. The colour of every overall indicates the student’s section, so every student may immediately be classified within their subjects.

Germany has already developed a certain kind of section-indicator, which is far more a cliché-proofed fact than a symbol of coherence or team spirit.

In Sweden, wearing these overalls is not to be understood as a warning : “Be aware of law students!,” but rather a gesture of solidarity and brotherhood, suggesting help and understanding.

“We are wearing the same clothes, which is why we belong together!” The colour-coded is well known to all the university’s students, so everyone may be arranged unambiguously to their fellow-students. That obvious allocation seems to be very handy for flirt-willing students, since one is able to simply scan the identified section for a certain “Sven Svensson” one got to know at last week-end’s party. Because even in nowadays times of social networking, clicking through all the “Sven Svenssons” profiles is pretty annoying and of course time-consuming.   

A certain feeling of solidarity can also be seen, when nobody has to think of what to wear for that night’s party. You suit up in your students overall, that you got when you signed up for university. The overall will be, according to swedish creativity, decorated with patches and pins ( swedish : Tygmärken), admission cards of festivals and everything else one is able to stick on to the stiff fabric. Especially the Name written on the overall’s surface (important : always choose the right leg, the left is for those belonging to student’s organisations only!)

Again, the overall unveils a socializing aspect : There is no ice anyone would need to break at a party night’s smalltalk: “What’s your name?” is a question one simply does not need to ask !

The time you saved choosing your outfit may once more be used for solidating activities – the less time one spent infront of the mirror or wardrobe, the more time for the typical pre-parties.

Swedish Students can spend a lifetime playing drinking games, singing songs and above all : enjoying themselves. Eventhough a drink will, of course, drop on the student’s suit once in a while (and with regard to their dancing it is indeed very likely), there is another important rule to know : A students overall may never –  I better repeat it – NEVER EVER, be laundered!