Figure 1.--These German children were photographed in Cologne. I'm not sure about the date. The boy's lace collar suggests the 1890s while the knickers suggest the 1900s. Botice the sailor styling on the jacket. |
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The German Empire was one of Europe's newest countries. It was formed
as a result of wars with Austria and France. The Empire was
declared in 1870? after the defeat of France. It was formed from a large
number og German states with Prissia at its core. The Prussian inlfluence
and the role of the Army made military styles very popular. The
Empire's decsion to build a modern Navy soon made the sailor suit even
more popular. The 1900s saw rising tensions with its neighbors as
the unified Germany began to assert its new power. The close relations that
Prussia had traditionally maintained with England began to disapate as
the Germans built an increasingly poweful highseas fleet. These tensions
erupted in 1914 in World War I which among many more important consequences
would have a great impact on fashions.
Few destinctive German boys clothing styles appeared after the turn
of the century. Styles appeared to have followed trends in the rest of
Western Europe. The one destinctive garment was lederhosen.
Little German boys, like boys in the rest of Europe, still often
wore dresses at the turn of the century. This fashion was, however, declining in
in popularity. I think it was not as popular in Germany as in many
European ciuntries like France and Italy, but I have no data to
substantiate this yet.
I do not believe that kilts were commonly worn in Germany. Mothers being mothers, however, it is likely that some boys occasionaly wore kilts, although this probably declined after the turn of the century.
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The tunic or blouse suit was popular in Germany as it was in many
other European countries and America. The most popular styles were the
Russian and sailor styles. The Buster Brown style worn in America was not common in Germany.
Most German boys wore kneepants in the 1900s, but short pants graduallu increased in popularity. Older boys might wear knickers. The only destinctive German style I know is lederhosen, but I'm not sure just when they became a popular boys fashion, I think primarily after World War I (1914-18). We notice, however, quite a few boys wearing lederhosen or lederhosen styled pants for a folk or ethnic costume look in the early 1900s. I seem to have noted an increasing number of lederhosen in German photographs beginning in the 1920s, although the origin is much earlier.
The sailor suit was one of the most popular garments in the early 20th Century. Nowhere was it more popular than in Germany. Virtually every German boy had a sailor suit. Many boys had a number of them. Sailor suits remained very popular for German boys of all ages. Slowly knee length pants and long stockings were replaced by shorts, albeit long ones.
Little Lord Fautleroy suits were worn, but I'm not sure
how widely.
Dark long stockings were very common in the early 20th century, especially duing the winter. They were worn with both kneepants and knickers. Three-quarter scks weremore comon during the summer.
We note most bous boys wering boot-like hightop hoes. Only a few boys wear sandals.
Images of German royalty before World War I suggest that less restrictve, less confining styles were becoming popular after the turn of the 20th Century.
Kaiser Wihelm's sons for example wore short pants satin suits with
square open collars. (These suits can be viewed at the
European royalty site.)
Hair styles in Germany had some differences with the rest of Europe.
I have limited information on this topic at this time. Long hair and
curls for boys appear to have been less common than in the rest of
Europe. Older boys in school might have their hair shaved. This was
a reflectiin of the great esteme in which the German Army was held.
I do not yet have any information on the German conventions for
wearing the various styles.
HBC at this stime has only limited information that can be attributed to specific decades. Many of the available early 20th century images are undatd. Available school portraits, however, do provide some insights as many are dated. Sailor caps and hats were popular in the 1900s. Some boys wore militar-style peaked caps. Another popular style were flat caps. Some boys wore Fauntlroy suits, but they were not as popular as in France and England. We notice many German boys in the 1900s wearing sailor suits. Germany at the time was involved in a naval arms race with Britain and a country' navy, especially battleships, were he hallmark of a great power. We also notice tunic suits and Russian blouse outfits. Boys also wear a variety of suits, most with kneepants and long stockings. Some boys wore short pants and kneesocks which the Scouts and Wandervogel help popularize. HBC has only limited information or photographs that can be specifically attributed to the 1910s. Some of the avaialble school photographs, however, do provide some information that is either dated or for which HBC has estimated the dates. Sailor suits were still very popular for Germany boys. World War I broke out in 1914 and after the War in 1918 major changes behan in German boys wear.
Unfortunately I have little information on German clothes
during this period, but would greatly appreciate any information visitors to this web site could offer.
We would like to acquire articles on boys' clothing during the early 20th century. Here we are interested in both contemprary articles as well modern historical research.
A Polish resercher has assessed boys' fashions in what was at the time the German city of Breslau. The city is now the Polish city of Worclau. He has reviewed early 20th century Breslau publications. While he has focused on Breslau, the results are a good reflection of German fashions in general at the time. One of the principal styles assessed is the sailor suit.
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