Best Uniforms in Books

[Still from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Warner Bros.]

School has just started again, and everyone has survived the stress of picking out an outfit for the first day of school. But here's the kicker: that stress repeats itself every day, especially if you find that your closet is lacking. School uniforms solve that issue, although some are better than others. We've compiled a list of our favorite uniforms in books. Don that plaid skirt and tie—we're headed for a roundup.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

If you like your clothing symbolic, look no further than Lord of the Flies. The boys start out in the traditional, British school uniform—ties, jackets, and weird hats. As they descend into chaos, they shed the uniform and wear war paint.  If you're looking for a uniform that represents civility and order, then rock the Lord of the Flies uniforms.  And if you want to indicate a wild lifestyle, get rid of it and wear paint. Your teachers will totally let you.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Okay, if you want to go for fashion, the uniform in Ender’s Game is not where you want to go. If you want a cool, futuristic uniform that is functional, then it's the perfect uniform for you. It also looks super comfortable. So the next time you're looking to play video games or go into combat (or both), we recommend you give this uniform a try.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter uniforms are the paragon of school uniforms. Not only do you get to wear a tie that matches your house colors, but you also get to wear an amazing robe. We also appreciate that the robes are in black, so stains are hidden. Hogwarts doesn’t seem to allow many trips to the drycleaner.

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Apparently even royalty doesn't get a break from wearing school uniforms. The school uniforms in The Princess Diaries are pretty standard; they include the typical plaid skirt, tie, and blazer. While the uniforms are kind of bland, they are helpful for highlighting a makeover. If you're wearing the same thing every day, people will notice small changes. You know, like straightening your hair, ditching your glasses, and wearing makeup.  

Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar

We have to hand it to the kids in the Gossip Girl series; they can make school uniforms look phenomenal.  It only seems fair that they have to wear pretty basic uniforms (plaid skirt, white button-up, and tie) during the school week, because they wear the most ridiculously beautiful outfits outside of school hours. How many teenagers can wear designer outfits at fancy balls and parties? Even though the uniform is pretty run-of-the-mill, they manage to customize it and make it look chic. Whether it's wearing a headband to align themselves with their cliques or loosening their ties to give a devil-may-care attitude, the kids make the uniform their own.