In Europe, uniform is relatively rare. Yet here in the UK, it goes largely unremarked that the increasing popularity of blazer and tie uniforms over the last 30 years has coincided with increasing social inequality. The most serious recent investigation into what children wear to school was by the Office of Fair Trading – and that was into price. State-school children can now dress smartly and cheaply for learning (Tesco uniforms were £3.75 in the summer), but the divide between them and the pupils of Eton (three-piece tailsuit, £170) or Harrow (monitor's black top hat, £158) is wider than ever.