English boys have worn knee pants, short pants, knickers, and long pants, although the chronology is somewhat different than in America and other countries. Until the 20th century, the types and styles of trousers appear similar in both England and the Continent and America. Modern trousers appeared in the 17th century. Knee breeches were standard throughout the 18th century. An exception here were the long pants skeleton suits that boys began wearing in the late 18th century. Long trousers were sandard in the early 19th century. Various style of shortened-length trousers became popular for boys beginning in the mid-19th century. At first only little boys wire them, but they gradually became popular for older boys as well. British boys in the early 20th century commonly wore knee pants and to a lesser extent 'knickerbockers'. Baden Powell introducded short trousers as part of the Boy Scout uniform in 1907. These early short pants, however, were cut quite long, much like the knee pants being sorn at the time. These pants were commonly worn by all social classes. Boys from affluent families might be the first boys to wear long trousers. Another factor was school. Working class boys often finished primary school at about 13-14 years old. They did not commonly go on to secondary school and after they began working commonly wanted long trousers. Boys mostly wore shorts with knee-length socks. The Great War really saw the srart of massive shifts in all areas of life as the population was depleted of so many of its young men at the same time as more advances socially for the working classes who started to realise they need not be kept down by the aristocracy. In true British understated style this was done via steady progress rather than revolution. The next big change in social thinking came on the back of the Second World War as attitudes again showed marked changes. This was also a time of some American influence - albeit not as much as some would have others believe; there has always been a friendly disdain in Europe with regards American culture and values. During the 1920s knee pants began to disappear. They were replaced with with heavy, baggy long (knee length) shorts. As years progressed the length grew shorter. Short-cut shorts showing a Continental influence became standard in the 1960s. They continued popular until the early 1980s by which time long trousers had taken over. In the mid 1990s there was a definite increase in boys wearing shorts which continues to this day although this is usually only casually; all but some Prep schools and some state primaries expecting shorts to be worn. There are still a couple of London Prep schools who expect their pupils, especially the older boys, to wear courdroy breeches instead of the shorts worn by the younger ones. Within senior schools such apparel is now only worn in a few schools with particular historic connections.

The 17th Century

Modern trousers appeared in the 17th century.

The 18th Century

Knee breeches were standard throughout the 18th century. An exception here were the long pants skeleton suits that boys began wearing in the late 18th century.

The 19th Century

Long trousers were sandard in the early-19th century. Boys wore long pants skeleton suits and a time that adult men were still commonly wearing knee breeches. Long pants did not become standard for men until the late-1810s or early-1820s. Social class factors affected this transition. Boys commonly wore long pants into the mid-19th century. We note the Bond family in 1848. All the boys wear long pants or pantalettes, except for 4-5 year old George who has nit yet been breeched. Various style of shortened-length trousers began to become popular for boys beginning in the mid-19th century. This was mostly boys from prosperous families with fashion concious mothers. At first only little boys wore them, after beuing breeched. Shortened-lengh pants gradually became popular for school-age boys and eventually older boys as well. Social class here was a factor. Working-class boys, even younger boys were more likely to wear long trousers. By the 1880s we see more noys wearing jnickers. Knickers seem quite common at school as part of school uniforms. Knickers seem more popular than knee pants, in conteast to the United states where knee pants re more common. We note working-class boys in the early-1890s wearing mostly long pants, although boys from more affkuent families eere wearing longish cut knee pants or knickers. We can see this in Francis Meadow Sutcliffe's wonderful photographic record of the Yorkshire sea coast town of Whitby.

Figure 1.--Knee pants and knickers after the mid-19th century grew in popularity for younger boys. By the beginning of the 20th century, knee pants were standard for most English boys. This unidentitified portrait was taken about 1900-05.

The 20th Century

English boys have worn kneepants, short pants, knickers, and long pants, although the chronology is somewhat different than in America and other countries. Until the 20th century, the types and styles of trousers appear similar in both England and the Continent and America. British boys in the early 20th century commonly wore knee pants and to a lesser extent "knickerbockers". Baden Powell introducded short trousers as part of the Boy Scout unifirm in 1907. These early short pants, however, were cut quite long, much like the knee pants being sorn at the time. These pants were commonly worn by all social classes. Boys from affluent families might be the first boys to wear long trousers. Another factor was school. Working class boys often finished primary school at about 13-14 years old. They did not commonly go on to secondary school and after they began working commonly wanted long trousers. Boys mostly wore shorts with knee-length socks. The Great War really saw the srart of massive shifts in all areas of life as the population was depleted of so many of its young men at the same time as more advances socially for the working classes who started to realise they need not be kept down by the aristocracy. In true British understated style this was done via steady progress rather than revolution. The next big change in social thinking came on the back of the Second World War as attitudes again showed marked changes. This was also a time of some American influence - albeit not as much as some would have others believe; there has always been a friendly disdain in Europe with regards American culture and values. During the 1920s knee pants began to disappear. They were replaced with with heavy, baggy long (knee length) shorts. As years progressed the length grew shorter. Short-cut shorts showing a Continental influence became standard in the 1960s. They continued popular until the early 1980s by which time long trousers had taken over. In the mid 1990s there was a definite increase in boys wearing shorts which continues to this day although this is usually only casually; all but some Prep schools and some state primaries expecting shorts to be worn. There are still a couple of London Prep schools who expect their pupils, especially the older boys, to wear courdroy breeches instead of the shorts worn by the younger ones. Within senior schools such apparel is now only worn in a few schools with particular historic connections.

The 21st Century

Created: 8:48 PM 12/12/2012
Last updated: 2:11 AM 7/30/2013