Figure 1.--This Italian boy probably in the 1960s wears patterened short pants.

Italian boys have worn kneepants, long pants, knickers, and short pants. Boys in the early 19th century commonly wore long pants. At mid century knnepants and knicker bloomers appeared. These were often worn as parts of suits. Kneepants were very common at the turn of the 20th century. The Boy Scouts helped to popularize short pants in the early 20th century. Short pants were very commonly worn by Italian boys through much of the 20th century. I am not sure just when the style developed in Italy, but by the 1910s they were being widely worn by Italian boys. The length was knee level at first, but began to shorten in the 1930s and boys by the 1940s were wearing rather short cut shorts. During World War II (1940-43), Fascist authorities decreed short pants for boys inder 16 years of age. Older boys in the inter-War era might wear knickers. Knickers were usually worn as part of a suit. Jeans began to appear in Italy during the 1960s, a decade that saw substantial changes in Italian boys clothes. Jeans began to appear in Italy during the 1960s, a decade that saw substantial changes in Italian boys clothes. At the beginning of the decade, Italian boys were still wearing mostly short pants suits.

Long Pants

Boys in the early 19th century commonly wore long pants. Long pants first appeared as part of skeleton suits. They were worn by boys at a time when men were still wearing knee breaches.

Kneepants

At mid century kneepants and knicker bloomers appeared. These were often worn as parts of suits. Kneepants were very common at the turn of the 20th century.

Bloomer Knickers

Bloomer knickers were similar to kneepants only vloused at yje hem.

Short Pants

I believe that short pants first appeared in England. While small boys wore them before the turn of the century, they did not become widely worn until after the turn of the Century. Boy Scouts were a factor here, but not as importantbas in Britain. I am not sure just when the style developed in Italy, but by the 1910s they were being widely worn by Italian boys. The length was knee level at first, but began to shorten in the 1930s and boys by the 1940s were wearing rather short cut shorts. During World War II (1940-43), Fascist authorities decreed short pants for boys inder 16 years of age. Italy's Federation for Male Clothing seclared that shorts were "Hyginic". More important, they required less fabric than needed for either knickers or long trousers. ["Italy at War." ] HBC currently has very little information on Italian short pants, but hope an Italian visitor to HBC will provide details.

Knickers

I'm not sure when knickers first appeared in Italy. We assume it was in the late 19th century. I am not sure about the age conventions at first. After World War it became common for younger boys to wear short pants and older boys to wear knickers. Knickers were usually worn as part of a suit

Jeans

Jeans began to appear in Italy during the 1960s, a decade that saw substantial changes in Italian boys clothes. At the beginning of the decade, Italian boys were still wearing mostly short pants suits. By the end of the decade, older boys were no longer wearing shorts. Rather they had adopted American fashions likes jeans and "T"-shirts. As in other European countries, Italian boys commonly dress in a kind of pan-European style and jeans are a mjor part of that style.

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Created: June 2, 2004
Last updated: June 2, 2004