Guide Uniforms, 1909-1912

The earliest guidelines for uniforms appeared in The

Scheme for Girl Guides (1909). A variety of uniforms

were seen in the earliest days, and as “Company

Colours” was stated for certain items, it really was at the

discretion of the early Guides and their leaders just what

they would wear!

• Jersey, in Company Colour

• Navy Blue Skirt

• Red Biretta (Beret) OR Straw Hat (Summer)

• Neckerchief, in Company Colour (1909-1910)

• Navy Blue Stockings

• Navy Blue Underwear

• Haversack (1909-1910)

• White Lanyard, with Knife

Additional Items added:

• Brown Leather Belt with official metal buckle (added

1910)

• Light Blue Neckerchief, 4 x 40” long, worn knotted at

throat (added 1910)

• White Haversack with Red Cross

• Wood Staff, carried when on Ambulance Work

(added 1910)

Guide Uniform, 1912-1914

The uniform, as outlined in How Girls Can Help To Build Up

the Empire (1912) was adopted by some early companies,

and adapted by others.

• Shirt-Blouse, in Company Colour, with two pockets

• Navy Blue Skirt

• Navy Blue Scout Hat with wide brim and BPGG Hat Band

• Light Blue Neckerchief, 4 x 40” long, worn knotted at throat

• Brown Leather Belt with official metal buckle

• Navy Blue or Black Stockings

• Black Shoes

• Navy Blue Underwear

• Gloves, Brown leather, Gauntlet (optional)

• White Haversack with Red Cross

• Wood Staff, carried when on Ambulance Work

• White Lanyard, with Knife

• White Stretcher Sling, 4” wide, with Red 2” Stripe, for

Parades

Guide Uniform, 1914-1925

The first official Canadian Uniform was introduced in 1914

(although the middy blouse and skirt had been worn by

companies since Guiding’s earliest days):

• White Middy Blouse, with sailor collar (until 1919)

• Navy Blue Skirt, with two patch pockets (until 1923);

Pleated (1923-1925)

• Navy Blue Felt Velour Hat with straight brim and hatband

with official stamp

• Cadet Blue Sailor Tie (until 1917)

• Cobalt Blue Triangular Tie (added 1917)

• Brown Leather Belt with official metal buckle

• Navy Blue or Black Stockings (until 1915); Black only

(1915-1925)

• It is noted that “fancy openwork stockings should not

be worn”

• Black Shoes

• Navy Blue Underwear

• Gloves, Brown leather, Gauntlet (optional)

• White Haversack with Red Cross (until 1919); Navy

Haversack (1919-1925)

• Wood Staff, carried when on Ambulance Work (until 1917)

Additional options added:

• Navy Shirt (added 1919) or Navy Middy (added 1923)

• Black or Navy Hair Ribbon (added 1919)

• Brown leather purse, worn on belt (optional) (added 1924)

Guide Uniform, 1925-1953

By the mid-1920s, . Their official uniform consisted of:

• Navy Overall, with four patch pockets

• Navy Tunic, with two patch pockets

• Navy Middy (until 1927)

• Navy Serge Pleated Skirt

• Navy Blue Felt Hat, straight brim (until 1929)

• Navy Blue Felt Stroller Hat (added 1929)

• Navy Blue Felt Beret (added 1939)

• Tie, Triangular, Cobalt Blue (until 1927)

• Tie, Triangular, Copen Blue or Company Colour (added

1927)

• Brown Leather Belt with metal buckle

• Navy or Black Underwear

• Stockings, Black or Brown, Uniform in Locality OR Knee

or Ankle Socks, Uniform in Locality, Black, Brown or Navy

(1948-1950); Black, Brown, Navy or Copen (1950-1955)

• Shoes, Black or Brown, Uniform in Locality

• Black or Navy Hair Ribbon

Additional options added:

• Gloves, Brown leather, Gauntlet (optional) (until 1935)

• Navy Sweater, V-neck (optional) (1926-1938)

• Navy Cardigan, V-neck (optional) (added 1937)

• Ankle Socks, Summer Wear, Uniform in Company, Black

or Brown (1938-1943); Black, Brown or Blue (1943-1948)

• Navy Haversack (until 1934)

• Brown purse, worn on the belt (Optional) (until 1939; 1950-

1953)

For Camp and Unofficial Occasions, the following pieces

could be worn in addition to those above:

• Camp Hat, Navy Blue (1931-1948); Copen Blue (1945-

1948); Navy (1948-1953)

• Navy Overall, short sleeved (1931-1948); replaced by a

Copen Blue Camp Dress (added 1948)

• Light Blue Blouse (1945-1948); replaced by a Copen Blue

Blouse (added 1948)

• Copen Blue T-Shirt with cap sleeves (1950-1953)

• Navy Shorts (added 1936)

• Navy Pants (Worn on Campsite only) (added 1950)

• Ankle Socks, Blue (1936-1948); Navy or Copen (1945-

1972)

Guide Uniform, 1953 to 1964

In 1953, the Guide Uniform was altered, bringing in the familiar

“Guide” Blue:

• Blue Dress with four patch pockets

• Blue Tunic and Pleated Skirt (until 1958)

• Navy Blue Beret

• Triangular Tie, Copen Blue or Company Colour

(Salvation Army Companies wear a Red/Gray tie)

• Brown Leather Belt with official buckle

• Black or Beige Stockings, Uniform in Locality

• Navy Knee or Ankle Socks, Uniform in Company (added 1958)

• Knee or Ankle Socks, Black, Brown, Navy or Copen, Uniform in Company (1953-1955); Blue (1955-1958)

• Black or Brown Shoes

• Blue or Black Underwear

• Brown Purse, worn on the belt (Optional)

• Light Blue 3” Pencil, worn on the belt (Optional) (added

1956)

• Black or Navy Hair Ribbon

For Camp and Unofficial Occasions, the following pieces could be worn in addition to those above:

• Camp Hat, Navy (until 1957); Blue (1957-1964)

• Copen Blue Camp Dress

• Copen Blue Blouse

• Copen Blue T-Shirt, with cap sleeves (until 1955); pull-over

style (1955-59)

• Crystal Blue T-Shirt with roll V-neck collar (1955-1957)

• Light Navy Blue Shorts

• Navy Blue Pants (Worn on Campsite only until 1957)

• Cardigan, Navy (1956-1962)

• Navy Hooded Sweatshirt (added 1963)

• Navy or Copen Blue Ankle Socks

Guide Uniform, 1964-1972

An updated uniform for Guides was introduced in 1964:

• Blue Blouse and Culottes

• Navy Elastic Belt

• Navy Felt Beret

• White nylon square with red maple leaves and blue

border

• Black or Beige Stockings OR Navy Knee Socks OR

Navy Ankle Socks

• Underwear, Blue or Black (1964-1967); Navy or

Black (1967-1972)

• Black or Brown Shoes, Uniform in Locallity

• Black or Navy Hair Ribbon

• Brown Purse, worn on the belt (Optional)

• Light Blue 3” Pencil, worn on the belt (Optional)

New Items were added

• Blue Badge Sash (introduced 1966)

There were also items that could be added to the

Official Uniform for Camp, Outdoor and Informal

Occasions:

• Blue Camp Hat

• Copen Blue Blouse (until 1971)

• Blue and White Checked Blouse (added 1971)

• Navy Hooded Sweatshirt (until 1966)

• Navy Shorts

• Navy Pants

• Navy or Blue Ankle Socks

Guide Uniform, 1972-1982

The Guide uniform changed slightly in 1972, with a skirt

replacing the culottes. A pattern was even provided for

those who wished to convert their culottes into a skirt!

• Blue Blouse and Skirt

• Older Guides who had outgrown their uniform

had the option of a white tailored blouse (1974-

1979) worn with the blue skirt, or with a navy

blue skirt (1976-1979)

• Blue Badge Sash

• Navy Elastic Belt

• Navy Beret—Felt (1972-1973); Nylon (1973-1979)

• White nylon square with red maple leaves and blue

border

• Beige or Black Stockings (1972-1973); Navy Tights

(1973-1975); Navy or Beige Tights (1975-1982) OR

Navy Ankle Socks (1972-1974) OR Navy Knee

Socks

• Navy or Black Underwear

• Brown or Black Shoes, Uniform in Locality (1972-

1981); Appropriate Shoes

• Black or Navy Hair Ribbon (until 1981)

• Brown Purse, worn on the belt (Optional)

• Light Blue 3” Pencil, worn on the belt (Optional)

There were also items that could be added to the

Official Uniform for Camp, Outdoor and Informal

Occasions:

• Blue Camp Hat

• Blue and White Checked Blouse, Short-sleeved

• Denim Blue T-Shirt with navy motif of trefoil inside

maple leaf (1977-1980); navy trim added at neck

and cuffs (1980-1982)

• Navy Shorts (1972-1981)

• Blue Shorts with Light Blue Trim (added 1981)

• Navy Ankle Socks (until 1977) OR Knee Socks

• Navy Pants

Guide Uniform, 1982-1987

While remaining largely the same, the Guide uniform

changed in 1982, replacing the skirt and blouse set with

a one-piece dress.

• Blue Dress

• Blue Badge Sash

• Navy Elastic Belt

• White nylon square with red maple leaves and blue

border; replaced by a triangular version in 1984

• Navy or Beige Tights OR Navy Knee Socks

• Navy or Black Underwear

• Appropriate Shoes

• Brown Purse, worn on the belt (Optional)

• Light Blue 3” Pencil, worn on the belt (Optional)

There were also items that could be added to the

Official Uniform for Camp, Outdoor and Informal

Occasions:

• Blue Camp Hat

• Denim Blue T-Shirt with navy trim at neck and cuffs,

navy motif of trefoil inside maple leaf (1982-1985)

and motif of white trefoil on navy maple leaf (1985-

1987)

• Copen Blue Shorts with Light Blue Trim

• Navy Knee Socks

• Navy Pants

Guide Uniforms, 1987-2001

New uniforms for all branches were introduced in 1987.

While Guides retained the colour blue, their look was

updated:

• Blue Dress (new style)

• Blue Badge Sash

• Canvas Belt, Blue and Red; replaced by elasticated

version in 1992

• White Triangular Scarf with two Blue stripes

• Blue Tights or Knee Socks

• Underwear, Navy (until 1991); Blue (1991-1992)

(Optional)

• Appropriate Shoes

• Beige Purse, worn on the belt (Optional)

• 3” Pencil, worn on the belt (Optional) - Light Blue

(1987-1994); Blue (1994-2001)

There were also items that could be added to the Offi-

cial Uniform for Camp, Outdoor and Informal Occasions:

• Blue Camp Hat (1987-1998); replaced by a Beige

Bush Hat (1997-2001)

• Blue and White Striped T-Shirt (until 1991)

• Blue Sweatshirt with Red Maple Leaves (until 1991)

• White Turtleneck with a Blue Trefoil on the collar,

1989-1994 (this was noted as ‘not official uniform

1989-1991)

• Blue Shorts

• Blue Sweatpants

• Blue Knee Socks or Ankle Socks (added 1992)

In 1991, pants were added to the uniform, moving some

items from Camp to Official Uniform:

• Blue Pants

• Blue and White Striped T-Shirt

• Blue Sweatshirt with Red Maple Leaves

Guide Uniforms, 2001-2009

A new brightly-coloured mix-and-match uniform for

Guide was introduced in 2001:

• Light Blue T-shirt with Navy sleeves and trim

• Light Blue long-sleeved T-Shirt

• White Triangular Scarf with two Blue stripes (until

2002)

• White scarf with Light Blue maple leaves (added

2002)

• Navy Badge Sash

• Navy Cargo Pants

• Navy Capri Pants with Light Blue accent (until 2008)

And new optional items added:

• Light Blue Bucket Hat with Trefoil on the front

• Denim Blue Hooded Sweatshirt

• Navy Blue Fleece Vest

• Navy Blue Shorts (until 2006)

• Light Blue/Navy Striped Ankle Socks (until 2008)

• Navy Ankle Socks

Guide Uniform, 2009-2012

In 2009 many uniform components are discontinued,

leaving the remaining items:

• Light Blue T-shirt with Navy sleeves and trim

• White scarf with Light Blue maple leaves

• Navy Badge Sash

• Navy Cargo Pants (new style)

• Navy Ankle Socks (discontinued 2012)

And new optional items added:

• Navy Bucket Hat with White Trefoil on the front

• Navy Hoodie with GGC logo on the left breast, two

pockets, and a full zipper,

Guide Uniform, 2012-

Changes were made to all youth uniforms in 2012,

making blue the dominant colour and using the branch

colours as accents.

The new Guide Uniform consists of:

• Blue T-Shirt with Navy trim at bottom, cuffs, and in-

set at neck

• Navy Blue Cargo Pants (as introduced in 2009)

• Navy Blue Badge Sash

• White Triangular Scarf with Navy Maple Leaves

*A slight change seems to have been made to the scarf,

and it now features an all-over maple leaf motif in navy

(2015-16).

Some optional items were retained as introduced in

2009:

• Navy Bucket Hat with White Trefoil on the front

• Navy Hoodie with GGC logo on the left breast, two

pockets, and a full zipper