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Much more information is available on on Australian boys clothing during the 20th century, although our Austra archive is still relatively limited. Austrlian boys fashions in the early 20th century wore quite similar clothes to English boys. Styles set in England were basically imported from the mother country. Australia became a nattion in 1901, now celebrated as Federation Day. Ties with the United Kingdom were still quite close and the dominance of English fashion, despite the quite different climate, is a good example of it. State schools at the time did not have uniforms. A younger boy migt have worn a sailor suit and cap--probably with kneepants and long above the knee stockings. Notfolk suits with Eton collars were common for older boys, usually kneepants and knicker suits. HBC has little information on Australia during the inter-war years. We do have an advertisement from a Sydney newspaoer detailing the boys' clothes a retailer offered in 1938: Juvenile clothing. From what we can tell, styles were very similar tio England, except that more Australian children went barefoot. HBC has collected some information on Australian boys' wear during post-World War II period. Australian boys continued to wear mostly short pants after World War II. The style of shorts worn during the 1940s and 50s were mostly the English style, rather baggy shorts worn at knee length. The style of short pants began to change in the 1960s. The shorter style continental shorts became more stylish. Jeans appeared in the 1960s and proved very popular, but could not be worn at school or for any special occasion. Most Australian boys in the 1940s and 50s wore short pants suits. This did not begin to change until the 1960s, although many boys still wore short pants suits in the 60s. A lot of Australian schools required school uniforms. Many still do, but the styles began to become more casual. Little information developed yet. Australian sources during the 1990s report a growing concern with exposure to the sun which has been reflected in fashions.
Australian boys fashions in the early-20th century wore quite similar clothes to English boys. Styles set in England were basically imported from the mother country. There were many similarities with America as well, but this seems to have been an indirect matter, simply reflecting common boys styles at the time. Australia became an independent nation (1901), now celebrated as Federation Day. Ties with the United Kingdom were still quite close and the dominance of English fashion, despite the quite different climate, is a good indicator of it. We see fancy Fauntleroy outfits and sailor suits for youngerr boys. State schools at the time did not have uniforms. A younger boy migt have worn a sailor suit and cap--probably with kneepants and long above-the-knee stockings. Notfolk suits with Eton collars were common for older boys, usually knee pants and knicker suits. They commonly wore peaked school caps. It would be hard to distinguish between Australian and English boys based on how they dressed. The one major difference was that Australian boys commonly went barefoot. This was much less common in England, especially went boys from well-to-do families when dressed up. Unlike England, going barefoot in Australiaas not seen as a matter of poverty. Long stockings were not as common in Australia as in America anbd msny European countries.
We still see knickers in the 1910s, but short pants became increasingly common. One of the major differences was that going barefoot was more common in Austrlalia than in England. The actual clothing styles, however, would have been very similar. We believe tha clothing specialists would be hard put to deferentiate between Austrlian and English boys in the early 20th century based upon their cloting. Hopefully Australian readers can provide additional details on this. World War I broke out (1914). The War had a major impact on fashion. The fancy often frivolus styles we see before the War began to give way to more practical styles.
HBC has little information on Australia during the inter-war years. We do have an advertisement from a Sydney newspaoer detailing the boys' clothes a retailer offered in 1938: "Juvenile clothing". From what we can tell, styles were very similar to England, except that more Australian children went barefoot.
HBC has collected some information on Australian boys' wear during post-World War II period. Australian boys continued to wear mostly short pants after World War II. The style of shorts worn during the 1940s and 50s were mostly the English style, rather baggy shorts worn at knee length.
Until World War II, Australian clothinf styles were mostly British. The War began a broadening cultural influence, especially with America. And this began to become notable in the 1960s. We see American casual styles becoming increasingly popular. Jeans appeared in the 1960s and proved very popular, but could not be worn at school or for any special occasion. Australian boys coninued to wear mostly short pants. The style of short pants began to change in the 1960s. The shorter style continental shorts became commonly worn. Going barefoot was still very common. Most Australian boys in the 1940s and 50s wore short pants suits. This did not begin to change until the 1960s, although many boys still wore short pants suits in the 60s. A lot of Australian schools required school uniforms, basically British styles. This often included short pants and knee socks. Many still do, but the styles began to become more casual.
Little information developed yet. Australian sources during the 1990s report a growing concern with exposure to the sun which has been reflected in fashions.
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