Figure 1.-- Outfits with bloomer knickers tended for some reason to be more common with middle- and upper-class families than working-class families. This can be seen because the boys depicted in early-20th century commnercial post cards often are shown waring bloomer knickers rather than knee pants.

Bloomer knickers were similar to proper knickers, but were primarily for younger boys. We are not sure what the German term is for these pants. A German reader suggests "Pumphose", but she is not sure. We first notice them in the mid-19th century. They were worn as late as the early 20th century, mostly before world War I. They look like the leg hem was elasticized, but they were actually closed using a draw string. They were primarily worn as suits in the mid-19th century. We see them worn with blouses and tunics in the ealy 20th century. They were often made with lighter material than proper knickers, especially the bloomer knickers worn in the early 20th century. Outfits with bloomer knickers tended for some reason to be more common with middle- and upper-class families than working-class families. This can be seen because the boys depicted in early-20th century commnercial post cards often are shown waring bloomer knickers rather than knee pants. Boys wore bloomer knickers with both three-quarter socks and long stockings, but rarely knee socks. We are not entirely sure why that was.

Age Trends

Bloomer knickers were similar to proper knickers, but were primarily for younger boys. The boys here look to be up to 8-9 years old. That was probably about the maximum age for bloomer knickers. Commercial post cards, however, are not the best indicators for popularity and age conventions. Here actual portraits and family snapshots as well as school portraits are much more valid indicators.

Terminology

We are not sure what the German term is for these pants. In particular we do not know what term was used in the 19th century. A German reader suggests " Pumphose " was used in the early-20th century, but she is not sure. Another reader reports that in the early 20th century the term " Kniehose " was used. Another term was " Pluderhose ", but this seems to have been more a reference to puffed pants for little boys in fashion during 1940-70s, a bit like French rompers.

Chronology

We first notice German boys wearing bloomer knickers in the mid-19th century. Our German 19th century archive is limited. We do not yet have many early examples. Thus we are not sure just how common they were. I get the impression that they were at first a rather fashionable style for boys and not widely worn by the average boy. They were fairly common for younger boys at the turn-of-the 20th century. They were commonly worn as late as the early 20th century, especially the very early 20th-century. We see very young boys wearing them as well as boys in primary school. They virtually disappeared during World war I. We are not sure just why. They are rarely seen after the War.

Construction

They look like the leg hem was elasticized, but they were actually closed using a draw string.

Outfits

These bloomer knickers were primarily worn as suits in the mid-19th century. We see them worn with blouses and tunics in the ealy 20th century.

Material

They were often made with lighter material than proper knickers, especially the bloomer knickers worn in the early 20th century.

Social Class

Outfits with bloomer knickers tended for some reason to be more common with middle- and upper-class families than working-class families. This can be seen because the boys depicted in early-20th century commnercial post cards often are shown waring bloomer knickers rather than knee pants. The postcard here is a good example.

Hosiery

Boys wore bloomer knickers with both three-quarter socks and long stockings, but rarely knee socks. We are not entirely sure why that was.

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Created: 5:47 PM 11/27/2008
Last updated: 2:56 AM 4/26/2009