Figure 1.-.

Suspender shorts (or strap shorts as we called them) were probably less common in England than in other European countries but they were not unknown even when I was growing up even for school. I recall that some boys wore grey strap shorts for school when I started there and even one or two when I was in class 2 (8 and 9-year-olds). I think that these were more hand-me-down shorts from older brothers as I never saw school strap shorts on sale except for the younger boys. A lot of girls wore strap skirts for Winter and that is why boys who wore them got a hard time.

Terminology

We called what you Americans call suspender shorts, strap shorts

English Trends

Besides these ones my little brother (and probably me and my older brother) had when little I don't recall us having any when older nor any other boys except the odd ones who had them for school. I do recall though that our school shorts had all sorts of different ways of keeping them up which may reflect changing times.

Popularity Around the World

Stap shorts were probably less common in England than in other European countries but they were not unknown even when I was growing up even for school. I recall that some boys wore grey strap shorts for school when I started there and even one or two when I was in class 2 (8 and 9-year-olds). I think that these were more hand-me-down shorts from older brothers as I never saw school strap shorts on sale except for the younger boys. A lot of girls wore strap skirts for Winter and that is why boys who wore them got a hard time.

Elastic

I think their dying out may have been because elastic became more common (or better quality and less likely to snap). Thus with elasticvised waists the straps were no longer needed. Of course the elastic was very practical because it simplified dressing. There was less for little kids to have to fiddle with.

My Little Brother's Strap Shorts

The strap shorts that I recall best were the ones that my little brother wore. I recall them because they caused so much trouble in the morning as we were getting ready to go to school. I am pretty sure that the (non-school) strap shorts I was telling you about that my brother wore had been made by the old ladies who ran the wool and button shop and it was probably beyond them to insert a proper elasticated waist or too much trouble to sew on belt loops - although, as I say, it may just have been that they had the straps so the shorts could be worn by diffferent boys of diffferent sizes and still be kept up.

My Own Memories

I probably also wore strap shoots as a little boy. I don't really recall when we were very little as Mum just dressed us.

Strap Shorts at School

While I do not recall wear strap shorts myself. I do recall that a few very young boys did wear strap shorts to school. I was thinking more of two boys who wore them when I was in class 2 (8 and 9 year olds). One boy wore them occaisionally and one most of the time. It was probably because they were seen as being for younger boys by then - or "girly" as a lot of the girls - even the older ones - did wear strap skirts in the Winter and it didn't seem to be a problem for them.(I think that in some ways boys could be more fashion consious than girls at that age - not so much in wanting to wear something that was "in" but in NOT wanting to wear something that was "out" or "babyish" but maybe women would disagree.To me it seemed that girls were mostly concerned with how their hair was styled rather than clothing whereas boys didn't have so much choice in hairstyles when I was at primary school).

School Shorts: Support Arrangements

While I do not recall ever wearing strap shorts to school, I do recall very clearly all the different methods that were devised to hold shorts up and make them look smart. Around the age of 9 years of age or so I did start to notice things and have my preferences and this led to arguments with my older brother. As I've said Mum would get all of our school clothes ready on the Sunday night and then we'd put them in neat piles in the airing cupboard. Then she'd iron them fresh each morning for school and I remember getting into a race with my brother to finish our porridge first and brush our teeth so that we could get to Mum first and get the "best" pair of shorts. We never knew which two pairs she'd have got out and ironed but there was usually one pair out of the two that one or other of us would prefer as they were all of different types.

Lederhosen

Bill