Dutch Boys' Clothes: Social Class Trends


Figure 1.--Through World war II there were substantial differences between working class and middle class living standards. Apparently as late as the early 50s, some houses in De Jordaan (a popular quarter in Amsterdam) had no bathroom. This street scenr was taken in 1951.

Social class factors also influence clothing. Working class families have less money to spend on clothing than middle-class and wealthy families. Differing class life styles also affect what types of clothes are needed. Traditionally it was the upper classes that set styles. The working class and middle classes followed those styles to the extent that they could afford to do so. Working class children often in the 19th children wore their parent's or older siblings old clothes. As a result there were often very substantiasl differences between how working-class children and middle-class children dressed. Rising incomes after World war II to a large extent narrowed the income gap betweeen the middle and working class, also affecting social values. The upper class's influence on fashion used to be the basic trend. That trend has also declined in recent years.








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Created: 3:02 AM 10/11/2004
Last updated: 3:02 AM 10/11/2004