Figure 1.-- This portrait of the Ioakimeidis family was taken in January 1935. The older boy appears to be wearing a one-piece shortall-like garment, although the image is not clear enough to tell precisely what he is wearing. The family's clothes suggest a prosperous if not wealthy family at the time. |
The Greek urban middle class has dressed much as their counterparts in Western Europe beginning with independene in the 1820s. The Greek monarchy, chosen from other countries, was caeryainly an important factor in popularizing Western styles and garments. The peasantry in the rural areas and small villages which constituted much of the population continued to wear traditional clothing through much of the 19th century. We do not yet have details on these traditional garment styles, but eventually hope to add a section on them. Western garments became increasingly common in the countryside in the 20th century, especially after World War I. The sailor suit was a popular garment in Greece as in much of the rest of Europe. Some school children wore smocks. By the 1920s, short pants were becoing increasingly common in Greece. Boys wore short pants suits. Some older boys wore knicker suits until after World War II. Short pants trend that pesisted through the 1960s. Some younger boys appear to have worn rompers, but this appears to have been primarily boys from affluent families. Greek boys still wear shorts, but now mostly as casualwear in the summer. Sport shorts and tube socks were popular in the 1980s. Since the 1980s Greek boys garments have become generally indistinguishable from those worn in America and the rest of Europe.
The Greek urban middle class has dressed much as their counterparts in Western Europe beginning with independene in the 1820s. The Greek monarchy, chosen from other countries, was caertainly an important factor in popularizing Western styles and garments. The peasantry in the rural areas and small villages which constituted much of the population continued to wear traditional clothing through much of the 19th century. We do not yet have details on these traditional garment styles, but eventually hope to add a section on them.
Western garments became increasingly common in the countryside in the 20th century, especially after World War I. Since the 1980s Greek boys garments have become generally indistinguishable from those worn in America and the rest of Europe.
As elsewhere in Europe, young boys commonly wore dresses like their sisters thoughout the 19th century. After the turn of the 20th centuyry this fashion continued but gradually declined in popularity.
I am not sure at this time how common smocks were in Greece. HBC at this time has no evidence that they were widely worn, but our historical information on Greece is stull very limited. We do know, however, that they were extensively worn as a school garment. Many school children did wear smocks. They were required at schools as a nation-wide rule for many years. A Greek reader reports school children in the 1950s wearing blue smocks with wide white collars. One Greek reader describes wearing a smock at a private school in the 1980s. Wearing smocks to school, however, for the most part ended when the Greek Government banned school uniforms in 1982.
The sailor suit was a popular garment in Greece as in much of the rest of Europe. Our information is still limited, but we have begun to collect some basic information. HBC notes a portrait of a boy in a traditionally styled kneepants sailor suit in the 1870s. We are not sure how common these suits were at this time. We suspect that they were mostly worn by boys from relatively affluent families in the larger cities. Another portrait probablt from the 1910s shows a boy wearing a white sailor suit with bloomer knickers. We suspect by this time that the sailor suit fashion was much more widespread in Greece. We note that it seems less common to wear sailor suits with long stckings than it was in the more northerly European countries.
By the 1920s, short pants were becoing increasingly common in Greece. Boys wore short pants suits. Some older boys wore knicker suits until after World War II. Short pants trend that persisted through the 1960s. Here climate was surely a factor, making shorts a suitable garment for uch of the year as opposed to the colder more northerly climates in other European countries. Greek boys still wear shorts, but now mostly as casual wear in the summer.
Some younger boys appear to have worn rompers. We note one inmage from the 1930s of boys wearing rompers. This may have been an Itlalian or French influence. We do not know how lng this fashion persisted or how common it was. It appears to have been primarily boys from affluent families.
A gym or physical education (PE) called "formes" was adopted in the 1970s, but in the 1980s became popular as ordinary schoolwear. One major change from the
mid-70s on was the introduction of a specific sport outfit for the class of physical education. Cotton trousers with matched tops were required for both boys and girls
in Demotiko and Gymnasio. At the beginning teachers tolerated students who couldn't afford them but when they became cheap in late 70s they were strictly
required for PE class. The term used for this outfit is "forma" or in plural "formes" which means uniform in Greek. In the 1980s with the abolishment of school
uniform, children began wearing their formes to class as school garments rather than PE garments. But they have nothing to do with school uniforms since students
can buy any type and color they like. Since the late 80s Nike, Adidas and other brands are prefered by students over the classic "made in Greece" cheap cotton
forms. While formes were developed primarily for schoolwear they are now widely worn at home as casualwear as well as schoolwear.
Kneesocks were widely worn in the 1920s-40s, but often by boys from more affluent families. Sport shorts and tube socks were popular in the 1980s.
Greece was a poor country in the 19th century and many children went barefoot. Climate was another factor making gouing barefoot more practical. Children with shoes oftern wore heavy book-like shoes although boys frpm affluent damilies might wear more fashional footwear. In the 20th century children often went barefoot through the 1940s, the aftermath of World War II and the Civil War causing emense economic dislocations. As the economy has improved, children less commonly go barefoot. Sandals since World War I have proven very popular and children often wore them without socks. Since the 1980s sneakers have become increasing popular.
Greece during 19th and much of the 20th century was a poor country. Much of the population had little money to spend on clothes. Thus if clothing was wripped or torn, most mothers would not throw the item away, but instead patched it. This was especially trur of children's clothes because children are so hard on their clothes. There were many techniques for patching clothes. They were copmmonly used up until the 80s. A HBC reader tells us, "I
remember myself and my friends wearing patched clothing--especially our trousers."
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