Boys' Clothes Styles during the 1950s: Scocial Change


Figure 1.--.

The more we examine the changes taking place roughly from the end of World War II until the mid-1960's we find that several lessons stand out. I think the foundations for our contemporary culture and lifestyles were unfolding. One change is especially important. While rumblings of a youth culture had been heard since at least the 1920s, at mid-century this trend was becoming a popular and commercial phenomenon. It brought with it of course both exciting and troublesome prospects. In terms of fashion as with other aspects of popular culture we can find both consistent trends and interesting contradictions. How boys, their parents, and the media accepted or rejected short pants during this time is a good example of America's cultural flux.

Unfolding Modern Life Style

The more we examine the changes taking place roughly from the end of World WarII until the mid-1960's we find that several lessons stand out. I think the foundations for our contemporary culture and lifestyles were unfolding. One change is especially important. While rumblings of a youth culture had been heard since at least the 1920's, at mid-century this trend was becoming a popular and commercial phenomenon. It brought with it of course both exciting and troublesome prospects. In terms of fashion as with other aspects of popular culture we can find both consistent trends and interesting contradictions. How boys, their parents, and the media accepted or rejected short pants during this time is a good example of America's cultural flux.

Depression and World War

My thinking is that the Great Depression of the 1930s, then World War II of the 1940s, delayed the development of a worldwide popular culture that focused on the attitudes, needs, and, most important, the buying habits of young people. Following the cataclysm of the First World War, young people were rapidly, if unevenly, breaking away from pre-war social conventions. The "flaming youth" of the "roaring twenties", however, became but memories as the global depression deepened. During World War II many young people grew up rather quickly, contributing in one way or another to the war effort in their country. German children played a greater war in the war effort than children in any other country. Children in the occupied countries suffered great privations. The experienese of Displaced children, the Lebensborn children and the Holocasust are tragic indeed.

The United States in the 1950s

The United States, compared to the wartorn nations of Europe and Asia, was physically hardly damaged by the war. In fact America emerged from the war an industrial and military superpower, richer than ever. This says nothing of the social changes that took place in wartime America. The war effort accelerated mobility at home and left its mark on popular culture; a new "relativism" and more relaxed moral standards were taking root. During the war years a term was heard with growing frequency: juvenile delinquency. America's youth, its troubles, promise, and needs, were being talked and written about as never before. A culture seemingly obsessed with youth was emerging.

The Rest of the World

The trends in America in many ways were not destinctive to America. Thgey emerged first in America because of the economic boom and prosperity folloing the war. They emerged in Western Europe and Japan as economic prosperity developed there. These social trends behind the Iron Curtain were slower to develop, but not absent.

Cultural Direction

What was less clear was what direction this new culture would take. More and more the young, I think, wanted to shorten childhood and mature more rapidly. Surrounded by the tantalizing images of independence and empowerment which the media displayed as privileges of growing up, why shouldn't they?

Parents

Parents on the other hand wanted their children to mature, but not as quickly and certainly not in some ways that the younger set had in mind. Many parents, who had grown up in the trying days of the Depression and the War, I think wanted their children to be free of such insecuirty and want as much as possible. They wanted to give their young people all the advantages they'd never had. It was though this older generation had survived those bleak times, determined never to let such misery fall upon their own children.

Young people

I think most young people were not so mindful, however, of their parents hopes and wishes. They wanted to grow up and experience the excitement and pleasures that beckoned them across the great divide between childhood and maturity. This attitude was reflected in boys' attitudes toward short pants. Shorts were obviously the attire of the junior set; when did you ever see James Dean, Elvis, or any of the '50's icons in shorts? After a certain age, boys opt for the (this dates me, I know) the hip and the cool, as personified by this season's cultural idol. Not to do so marks a boy as (here I go again) "square", "still a child", "uncool". What boys wanted in 1950s was jeans. This was especially true in America, but soon spread to Europe as well.

American Clothing

American boys during the 1950s boys about 10 and older were more likely to wear blue jeans and long trousers than shorts. For formal or dressier occasions shorts were the exception. Older American boys, about ages 10 and up, disliking shorts for dress-up occasions. Short trousers suits or dress shorts and knee socks by the 1950's seemed old fashioned to older boys. The style might suit younger boys, but not older ones. To be dressed as a small child would be a setback to an older boy's self-image, implying a loss of status, maturity, and independence. Looked at it another way, many boys resist having to dress up, period. Being dressed in a juvenile fashion just adds insult to injury! Shorts for sports and active wear, though, is another matter. Boys wore shorts for track, basketball, and summer camp, for instance, and that was acceptable. These are competitive or vigorous activities that are "all-boy". In sections of the US that enjoy a long, hot summer boys were more likely to wear shorts for casual wear, but not so likely for formal occasions.

Media Depictions

HBC's pages of the media's treatment of boys and shorts at this time, especially the Saturday Evening Post cover illustration of the boy in front of the mirror, trying on his new short trousers suit; "Beaver's Short Pants"; and the "Big Ben Bolt" comic strip, show that boys didn't accept this style easily. Being dressed up - and neatened up - is bad enough to many boys, but wearing a shorts suit, a style better suited for a younger boy, makes matters worse. Casual shorts for sports wear or active wear wouldn't be so bad. At least sports involves competition and tests of strength; boys can relate that to. But wearing shorts just to be, as the boy from the comic strip I alluded to would say, "All slicked up like a Christmas goose!", no way!! There's a little more I had in mind about the accuracy of media portrayals and a few other points.

Discussion

The author here has ontributed this essay as a discussion piece. He welcomes comments and thoughts from other HBC reders.

John Bridges









HBC





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Created: December 20, 1998
Last updated: December 12, 2003