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Short pants first appeared in the 1900s, primarily as a European export, especially British. They did not prove as popular in America as in Europe. Some young boys wore them, but most older boys insisted on knickers. Even Scouts in America wore knickers rather than short pants. Theu were generally seen as a garment for younger boys. There were also reguional and social class differences. Only in the 1960s did the attitudes of American boys begin to change and shorts began to become acceptable for casual wear by boys of all ages. American boys did not commonly wear the short pants that became widely accepted in England and Europe, especially in the years after the 1920s. American boys much prefered knickers. Some American boys, however, did wear shorts. They were acceptable for little boys, especially before they began school. They were also more accepted in the southern states and California where the weather was warmer--especially during the summer. Notably, even in the South, shorts were not commonly worn in rural areas. Short pants were also worn by boys from wealthy families more intuned with European fashions and able to send their boys to private schools, some of which required short pants uniforms. Families from European immigrant families were also more likely to dress their boys in shorts. This began to change in the 1960s when short pants as casual wear became increasingly accepted. The introduction of cutoffs and the increasing popularity of soccer and bnasketball (sports with short pants uniforms) were important factors. American boys by the 1980s commonly wore shorts as casual wear, elementary boys would even wear them to school. Quite short styles were popular. Styles began to change in the early 1990s as influenced by
hip-hop fashions, shorts begame long and baggy.
American boys did not commonly wear the short pants that became widely accepted in England and Europe, especially in the years after the 1920s. Shorts appeared in America in the early 1900s, but they were not at first widely worn except by younger boys--even by Boy Scouts. Through the 1920s and 30s they were worn by some boys, but most American boys wore knickers. They were also more common in the South and by boys from more affluent families. Older boys never wore shorts, except for atletics like basketball or tennis. By the 1940s, long pants were becoming increasingly common. Short pants became even less common as dress wear with a suit in the 1950s, but by the 1960s began to grow in popularity as casual summer wear. New styles of shorts appeared in the 1970s and they began to be worn in shorter styles. Shorts by the 1980s became very commonly worn. Shorts continued to be commonly worn in the 1990s, but they began to become long and baggy by the mid-1990s.
Short pants first appeared in the 1900s, primarily as a European export, especially British.
Short pants did not prove as popular in America as in Europe. Some young boys wore them, but most older boys insisted on knickers. Even Scouts in America wore knickers rather than short pants. Theu were generally seen as a garment for younger boys. American boys did not accept short pants like European boys. Some American boys commonly wear the short pants that became widely accepted in England and Europe, especially in the years after the 1920s. American boys much prefered knickers. I'm not positive why there was such a difference between American and European boys dress styles, but it is a topic that needs to be pursued.
Some American boys, however, did wear shorts. They were acceptable for little boys, especially before they began school. They were also more accepted in the southern states and California where the weather was warmer--especially during the summer. Notably, even in the South, shorts were not commonly worn in rural areas. Short pants were also worn by boys from wealthy families more intuned with European fashions and able to send their boys to private schools, some of which required short pants uniforms. Families from European immigrant families were also more likely to dress their boys in shorts. This began to change in the 1960s when short pants as casual wear became increasingly accepted.
There were significant reguional differences in America regarding short pants. Shorts appear most common in the South so climatic factors appear to have been of some importance. There were a variety of other factor involved. Shorts appear to have been less common in the Western States, with the exception of California.
There were also social class differences, in part affected by ethnicity, that affected the popularity of short pants. Many younger boys wore shor pants in the mid-20th century. Among older boys, however, there appears to have been social class differences. A reader writes, "I agree generally with your assessment of short trousers in America, especially with the greater prevalence of short trousers in wealthier families and in the families of immigrants (especially in the
northeastern United States). I'm thinking mainly about the 1930s and very early 1940s."
Short pants were worn for both dress up occassions and for casual and play clothes.
Short pants were initially boys clothes and the detinction between casual and pants were not common as it is today. This has varied over time. Boys in the early 20th century did not have the extensive wardrobes common today. Boys from families with modest income might have a good pair of pants and use an older pair for play. After World War I it becomes more common to see play clothes advertized. Casual shorts were readuly available in the 1930s. For small boys short sleeve shirt and short sets that looked coordinated were popular. The popularity of dress and play shorts varied over time. Some boys in the 1950s, for example, had jeans for play and short pants suits for dressing up. By the 1960s, however, short pants became increasing a caual or play garment. Boys might till wear shorts for dresy summer occassions, but this became less common. A variety of specific styles appeared. Older boys might wear Bermuda shorts. Another popular style appearing in the 1950s was shortalls. Younger boys often wore simple boxer shorts. Camps shorts appeared in the late 1950s. Various styles of althetic shorts began to become popular in the lae 60s, influenced by the growing popularity of both basketball and soccer. The introduction of cutoffs and the increasing popularity of soccer and bnasketball (sports with short pants uniforms) were important factors in making short pants increasingly popular in America. American boys by the 1980s commonly wore shorts as casual wear, elementary boys would even wear them to school. Quite short styles were popular. The casual shorts, walks shorts or camp shorts generally came a little above the knee.
Short pants have varied widely in color. The available colors have varied over time and dependened somewhat on the type of shorts. Dress shorts were made in a varirty of colored, often dark pattens to match suit jackets. They were also made in solid colors, generally dark colors like grey, blue, and black. White shorts were worn as dress shorts seasonally during the summer. Play or casual shorts have varied much more in color. The most common colors were brown, blue, green, and grey. Aftr World War II (1939-45) more colors. Shorts for younger boys might be in a variety of bright colors including red. The range of clors increased even more in the 1970s with the appearance of sport or jogging shorts and OP cord shorts in a great range of colors.
America's climate is much more severe than much of Western Europe, despite the norther lattitudes. Many American mothers did not think short pants were appropriate boys wear in cold winter weather. This advertisement for the well-known Hickory hose supporters appeared in Parents Magazine, March 1932, p. 58 (figure 1). It appealed to mothers to keep their children in long stockings during the chilly March weather rather than letting them go outdoors with bare knees. The boy and girl in the illustration are being pelted with chilly rain, apparently with unprotected knees. The mothers are being advised to protect their boys and girls from the dangers of "rheumatism, arthritis, lung, bone or kidney troubles" by
keeping them during the early spring months in long stockings to "prevent unnecessary colds and more serious troubles". The advertisement even appeals to the endorsement of physicians: "Ask your doctor, too."American mothers appear to have become convinced that it was
unheatlhful to expose children's knees to cold weather.
The initial short pants were knee-lenhth pants with belt loops. Elasticised waists for shorts began to appear in the 1920s as did other stylistic details such as cuffs. Shorter shorts began to appear in the mid-1920s for younger boys. Styles began to change in the early 1990s as influenced by hip-hop fashions, shorts begame long and baggy.
It is interesting to speculate as to why differences in fashion developed and wheter they are accidental, random developments or rather reflections of deeper aetetic or social values. Some differences are practical. Thus climate dictates that boys in
Russian and the Caribbean dress differently. Sometimes fashion overides practical matters. School boys and Scouts, for example, on many Caribbean islands insist on wearing long pants. One intreaguing question is did American and Europeans boys dress so differently during much of the 20th century. European boys commonly wore short pants while American boys mostly wore knickers and long pants.
American boys have worn various types of hosiery with short pants. Short pants became popuilar in the 1920s. They were at first most worn with knee socks, but younger boys also wore them with long stockings. We see boys more commonly wearing shorts with ankle socks in the 1930s.
After World war when short pants began to be worn by American boys, there had to be changes made in the underwear worn by boys. The same was true of girls who began wearing shortr shirts. Long underwear was unsightly with short pants and short skirts. It was not so inportant when boys wore kneepants and knicker with long stockings. With short pants, hoever, shoter styles of underwear were needed.
Some reports about the experiences of boys with short pants in various countries include the following:
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