Figure 1.--This Belgian boy in 1925 wears a an open collar shirt with a wide collar worn over the suit lapels. It was a popular style in the late 1920s and 1930s. His suit is a standard single breasted short pants suit worn with kneesocks.

Suits were very commonly worn by Belgian boys, as did boys in other European countries, in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Some boys wore sailor suits instead of suits. Only in the 1950s did boys begin to wear increasingly casual styles and suits became less common. There were many different styles of suits. We note both single and double breasted suits. We believe that Belgian boys basically followed popular French styles, although we have only limited information at this time. We do note that in the late 1920s and 1930s that an open collar shirt with a wide collar worn over the suit lapels was a popular style. Belgian boys have worn suits with kneepants, knickers, short pants, and longpants. We note a few boys wearing black suits which appear to have been a color that was not popular in many other European countries, although worn in America. One good source of information on the suits worn by Belgian boys over time are the First Communion portraits taken. Belgium is a largely Catholic country and most boys did their First Communion in suits, although her again more casual styles were notable bu the 1060s even for First Communion.

Usage

Suits were very commonly worn by Belgian boys, as did boys in other European countries, in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Boys at the time did not have largecwardrobes of casual clothes. Thus suits were wirn for many occassions such as school or even playing about for which casual clothes are now commonly worn. Only in the 1950s did boys begin to wear increasingly casual styles and suits became less common.

Chronology

Sailor Suits

Some boys wore sailor suits instead of suits. This included even younger teenagers. The sailor suit, however began to decline notably in popularity during the 1930s. Unlike some countries where sailor suits were popular, Belgium had no national navy of any consequence. HBC believes that Belgium fashions are basically a function of French fashions and sailor suits were enormously popular in France. Likewise they were extremely popular in Belgium. I'm not sure about the exact chronology, but at the turn of the century most Belgian boys had a sailor suit and commonly wore it. They were an extremely versitile garment They were often worn to school and for a variety of formal occasions.

Jacket Styles

We have noted Belgian boys wearing many different styles of suits over time. We note cut-away suits in the 19th century. We note both single and double breasted suits done in a variety of styles. As in the rest of Europe, Norfolk jackets were very popular in the early 20th century. We believe that Belgian boys basically followed popular French styles, although we have only limited information at this time. We do note that in the late 1920s and 1930s that an open collar shirt with a wide collar worn over the suit lapels was a popular style.

Pants Styles

Belgian boys have worn suits with kneepants, knickers, short pants, and longpants.

Colors

We note a few boys wearing black suits which appear to have been a color that was not popular in many other European countries, although worn in America.

Schoolwear

Many younger Belgian boys wore smocks to school. Older boys for many years wore suits. Because many Belgian boys wore suits to school until the 1960s, school photographs are also a good indication of Belgian suit styles. A Belgian school 1928 class photograph shows that in a class of what to look to be younger teenagers that there are still two, probably three, boys wearing sailor suits. More boys would have been wearing sailor suits in the 1910s. Most of the other boys are wearing short pants suits with open collars.

First Communion

One good source of information on the suits worn by Belgian boys over time are the First Communion portraits taken. Belgium is a largely Catholic country and most boys did their First Communion in suits, although here again more casual styles were notable by the 1960s even for First Communion. Belgium is also a bilingual country being divided into both French (Waloons) and Dutch (Flemish) speakers. While linguistically divided, both the Waloons and Flemish are Catholics. First Communion has thus been an important event in a Belgian boys life. We believe there may have been social divisions here. We also believe that along with the decline in the importance of religion in Belgium as in much of Western Europe that the event is less important than it used to be. We have little information at this time, but we do know that some boys in the early 20ty century wore sailor suits.

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Created: July 12, 2002
Last updated: 3:08 AM 12/7/2007