Figure 1.--This Belgian boy was photographed in 1923, after World War I. He wears a kneepants sailor suit, as was common in the 1910s, with long stockings. We note here the jacket styling is different than that of a traditionmal sailor suit. Note, for example, the pockets. I am not sure what he is holding in his hands.

Belgian boys in the 1920s were still weraring sailor suits, especially in the early 20th century. Dark long stockings were still common in the early 1920s. White gloves were not as pervasive as in the early 20th cenntury, but still common. We note sone changes in the styles of the sailor suits. Major changes occurred in the 1920s. Early 20th century were still common in the early 1920s, but the boys tended to dress quite differently by the end of the decade. One of the important changes was hosiery. In the 1910s boys still wore long stockings. By the late 1920s, kneesocks were more common for ordinary wear. Long stockings seem to have continued in use for formal wear. Note that the boy here wears light-weight long stockings (figure 1). They were worn as formal wear, not for warmth. We also begion to see low-cut oxford shoes in the 1920s, although high-top shoes were also worn.

Image

Note the high neck Dickie with insignia. The modified sailor collar. The almost coat like sailor top. A tie ribbon and possibly whistle which is in his top breast pocket. Also note the pleat and button on the two top breast pockets. The long sleeves of the jacket which seems to button down the front have ornamental buttons. I cannot make out what is on the cuffs, but I think there is something. Also note the rather large and unusually space ornamental buttons on his kneepants. His black stockings seem to bulge out to just above his ankles suggesting he is wearing long underwear which was not pulled down to his ankles. Here we are not sure, this may be an illusion resulting from image compression. He is also wearing modern looking lace oxford style shoes.

Headwear

Presumably boys wearing sailor suits had sailor caps.

Sailor Suits

Belgian boys still wore sailor suits for First Communion in the 1920s, especially the early 1920s. This means that their best suit for church and important occassions was a sailor suit. The ones we have noted are dark suits, presumably navy blue. Most are are knepants suits worn with black, necer white long stockings.

Neckwear

Some boys still wear bows, but neckties are increasingly common.

Suits

Boys increasingly wear suits for their First Communion. We note both single- and double- breasted styling. These suits were commonly black or very dark plain color suits. These suits look rather modern and some could be worn today without notice. Styling was often plain with no notable detailing. Most boys wear kneepants suits with long black stockings.

Pants

Clothing for First Communion appears to have veered toward the traditional styles. Thus knepants were still quie common in the 1920s, especially the early 1920. Note the boy here wearing kneepants with his sailor suit (figue 1).

Gloves

Boys commonly have gloves for their First Communnion.

Hosiery

Kneesocks were becoming quite common for Belgian boys in the 1920s, but for their First Communion they commonly wore long black stockings which were demed more suitable for the solemnity of the occassion.

Footwear

Most boys wore black low cit ocfords for their First Communion.

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronologies] [Countries] [Style Index]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [French glossary] [Dutch glossary] [Satellite site]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s]

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Short pants suits] [Blazers] [Jackets] [Kilts]
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats]
[Ring bearer/page costumes] [Shortalls]

Created: June 13, 2002
Last edited: October 31, 2002