Figure 1.--This boy in 1934 wore a vest to school. Actually it looks more like a cross between a vest and sweater. The board says "in memory of my school time 1934" Notice the boys wears ankle socks with kneesocks. I do not think this sweater-vest is part of a matching suit. It seems to be an independent garment that could be worn with or without a jacket. A couple of things are interesting about the garment, Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

We note three different types of vests in Germany: suit vests, sweater vests, and separate vests. The most common were suit vests. Standard suits were composed of jackets and pants. Many suits came with vests, but they were an optional item. We first notice them being worn with cut-away jackets in the mid-19th century. They were worn with many oter types of suits. We note many images of German voys wearing vests in the 19th centuy. As they were worn with jackets, it is frquently difficult to make out much detail. Almost always they were worn with suits. Vess with suits seem to become less common after World War I (1914-18). Boys might wear vests without jackets, but this was more of a mid-20th century style. We do not notice boys wearing vests without jackets during the 19th century or even the early 20th century. The earliest example we note is from the 1930s and even this was more of a sweater. We do note boys wearing vests as kind of a formal outfit in the 1970s.

Suit Vests

Standard suits were composed of jackets and pants. Many suits came with vests, but they were an optional item. We first notice them in the mid-19th century. The were worn by younger boys with cut-away jackets in the mid-19th century. A good example is a Bremen boy in 1873. Older boys wore hem with more mature styled jackets. A good example is an unidentified boy in the 1860s. They were worn with many oter types of suits. We note many images of German boys wearing vests in the 19th centuy. As they were worn with jackets, it is frquently difficult to make out much detail. Almost always they were worn with suits. Vess with suits seem to become less common after World War I (1914-18).

Sweater Vests

We note some sweater vests, but not very many. They were not worn as suit vests. Here we have an aexample (figure 1). I do not think the sweater-vest worn by the unidentified 1934 schoolboy here is part of a matching suit. It seems to be an independent garment that could be worn with or without a jacket. A couple of things are interesting about the sweater vest that he is wearing.

Separate Vests

Boys might wear vests without jackets, but this was more of a mid-20th century style. We do not notice boys wearing vests without jackets during the 19th century or even the early 20th century. The earliest example we note is from the 1930s and even this was more of a sweater. We do note boys wearing vests as kind of a formal outfit in the 1970s.

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Created: 12:26 AM 1/22/2006
Last updated: 6:43 AM 4/7/2006