20th Century English Boys' Clothes: Post-war Era the 1960s

Figure 1.--British boys had generally worn long often baggy short trousers. Shorter continental-styled shorts appeared in the 1960s. Boys like this cricket enthusiast were increasinglky wearing shorts as casual wear, in this case with a zip-front sweat shirt.

Trend that began in the 1960s became increasingly apparent in the 1960s. Short pants were still commonly worn in the 1960s, but by increasingly younger boys--especially by the late 1960s. Boys began wearing clothes with a European influence. Short pants began increasingly short in the 1960s. The standard short pants were grey. Terelyn blended fabrics tended to replace flannel. These grey shorts were widely worn at schools. Some younger boys at secondary schools still weore shorts in the early 1960s, but this was rare except in private schools by the end of the decade. Outside of school, dress shorts were less commolybworn, but a varierty of play shorts in various colors and materials, including denim were popular for boys until their teen years during the summer. The year of 1968 is especially important as it was the year of the Paris school riots--which marked the increasing importance of youth culture throughout Europe. This trend was and fashions styles which accompanied it were also noticeble in England. By the end of the decade it was rare to see an older boy wearing short pants suits with knee socks, except at a few mostly private schools. Even the Scouts, but not the cubs, following the popular trend switched to long pants in 1969.

Chronology

The 1960s was a time of enormous change in British boys' wear. The trends began in the 1950s became widely adopted. Boys no longer wore short pants suits. Many younger boys at state secondary still wore short trousers with there school blazers at the beginning of the decade, but gthis had beconme rare by the end of the decade. Many state elementary schools adopted uniforms for the first time and these commonly required short pants, but usually without blazers. Private prep schools continue requiring blazers and short pants. Boys at home no longer wore short pants suits. Several non traditional styles apperaed in suits. Increasingly English boys began wearing shorts as leisure wear. The Scouts changed to a long pants uniform in 1969.

Continental Influence

Trend that began in the 1960s became increasingly apparent in the 1960s. Short pants were still commonly worn in the 1960s, but by increasingly younger boys--especially by the late 1960s. Boys began wearing clothes with a European influence.

Garments

Short pants began increasingly short in the 1960s. By the end of the decade it was rare to see an older boy wearing short pants suits with knee socks, except at a few mostly private schools. Jeans became increasingly popular during the 1960s, especially among teenagers, but they were not allowed at school. Younger boys might wear jean shorts.

Figure 2.--Many British boys in the 1960s wore short pants and kneesocks to school, but in secondary school it was mostly because the school required it. The boys were photographed in 1964. There school was probably a grammar school--a academically selective secondary school.

School Uniforms

The standard short pants were grey. Terelyn blended fabrics tended to replace flannel. These grey shorts were widely worn at schools. Some younger boys at secondary schools still wore shorts in the early 1960s, but this was rare except in private schools by the end of the decade. Outside of school, dress shorts were less commolybworn, but a variety of play shorts in various colors and materials, including denim were popular for boys until their teen years during the summer.

Paris School Riots