Figure 1.--This Parisian boy wears a one-pirce knit shorts suit with a large Peter Pan collar. Note the button arrangement. I'm not sure about his salute--presumably his father is a worker and he is at a Labor or communist rally. Notice the patterned kneesocks. The image fig.1 showing a little boy lifting his wrist is well kown. This photograph was taken during the "Front Populaire" period in 1936 at the Place de la Bastille. This little boy was among the crowd. On the paper one can read "Front Populaire". Probably the boy's fathers' was communist or socialist.

Knit clothing is a very important French style. HBC has not yet developed this section in detail, primarily because we have little actual information. As is the approach here at HBC, we post what we know and add additional information as we learn more and as readers contribute their insights. HBC begins to notice French boys wearing knit outfits in the 1930s. They may have appeared earlier. Knit sweaters had beem worn for some time, but in the 1930s HBC begins to notice a variety of other knit garments. Knit playsuits appear--many with short pants. These outfits appear to have been mostly casual outfits. I'm not precisely why that was. The French knit garments appear to be quite different than thosr worn in America and England.

Terminology

There are a number of French terms dealing with kniting:
Knitting: "Tricoter" or "faire du tricot".
Knit garment: "Tricot", tricots in the plural.
Knit romper: "Barboteuse en tricot" or "barboteuse tricotée". Sometimes the French simply say "barboteuse en laine" (wool romper) because the rompers were knitted in wool). Tricotée = feminate adj.)
Knit outfit: "Ensemble tricot" or "costume en tricot".
Knitting work: "Ouvrage en tricot"

Chronology

HBC begins to notice French boys wearing knit outfits in the 1930s. They may have appeared earlier, but we currently have little information on this. Knits appear to have been especially popular in the 1950s and 60s, but then began to decline in popularity.

Garments

Knit sweaters had beem worn for some time, but in the 1930s HBC begins to notice a variety of other knit garments. There were a wide variety of garments for the younger boy, but the primary knit garment worn by teenagers were seaters. Knit playsuits appear--many with short pants. There were both one and two piece outfits. Sweaters and shirts came in many styles. Shirts for younger boys might be made in the blouse style. The pats were usually short pants, presumably because they were considered more appropriate for boys. Other considerations suchb as the facty that they were easier to make and required less material were also factors. While the pants were mostly shorts, HBC has noted long knits pants as well--especially by the 1960s.

Ages

Knit garments were available or made for boys of all ages. The type and style of garment, of course, depended on the boy's age.

Conventions

These outfits appear to have been mostly casual outfits. I'm not precisely why that was. HBC has not noted a lot of dressy or formal knit outfits.

Styling

We have noted French knit patterns in a wide variety of styles. The French knit garments appear to be quite different than those worn in America and England. Some are quite stylish--especially those for younger boys. HBC, however, requires additional information before persuing this further.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing French pages:
[Main French style page]
[French choirs] [French school uniforms] [French school smocks] [French royalty] [French sailor suits]
[French scout uniforms] [Difficult French images] [French art] [French Movies] [French ethnics]

Created: March 31, 2001
Last updated: March 16, 2002