Figure 1.--This photograph was taken in Welligton, New Zealand during the 1890s. The fact that the photgrapher has a sailor ser up shows that the sailor suit was commonly worn. Note the long stockings and ringlet curk.

The garments worn by New Zealand boys were almost identical with those worn in England until after World War II. The primary difference was that New Zealand boys were less likely to wear shoes and stockings, in part becaise of the mild climate. New Zealland like neigboring Australia had a significant Scottish imigration and some boys did wear kilts at the turn of the century. The sailor suit was, as in England, a very popular 19th century style for boys after breeching. As in England, the sailor suit was usually worn to about the time noys began preparatory boarding school, or about 8 years of age. Boys were more likely to wear stockings and shoes for formal occasions. The same pattern continued in the 1910s when bous began wearing short pants instead of kneepants. They would commonly go barefoot, but would wear shoes and long stockings and later kneesocks when dressing up. After World War II clothing began to be increasingly casual. Clothing began reflecting the New Zealand climate more than the English climate. American styles began to appear and British styles were no longer the exclusive inflkuence on local clothing. Un recent years increasing attention has been given tom sun-safe garments.

Smocks

HBC has no information on the extent to which boys wore smocks in New Zealand. Available photographic images, however, do suggest that in the early 2oth century that some boys did indeed wear smocks. We suspect that it was not as common as say France, but instead followed the English pattern where smocks were worn, perhaps more commonly by boys from affluent families or families involved or influenced by continental European culture. We do not know of smocks being worn to school, but do believe that that some boys wore smocks at home.

Parkhas

A New Zealand reader tellsus, "Came across this website by chance and whilst looking for pockets found parka. In New Zealand this is a light rain jacket, usually waist length or covering the bottom, sometimes pull over the head and usually with a hood. However I think we spell it parkha. Although in common use I can't recall ever having written it, which might indicate, as with many words used in New Zealand, that it originated in India."

Kilts

New Zealland like neigboring Australia had a significant Scottish imigration. The Scottish were particularly important on South Island. Kilts were worn by New Zealand boys, but it appears to be primarily a style for prosperous families during the 19th cenntury. It was probably more commoin for New Zealanders with Scottish ancestry. Large scale immigration began in the 1860s and 70s. This was about the time that that boys in England were beginning to wear kneepants more commonly than long pants. Short pants became very common in the eaely 20th centuty. Shorts wee commonly worn by boys to school. Short pants school uniforms were adopted by most secondary schools.

Sailor Suits

The sailor suit was, as in England, a very popular 19th century style for boys after breeching. As in England, the sailor suit was usually worn to about the time noys began preparatory boarding school, or about 8 years of age. Boarding school was not as common in New Zealand as in England. Boys living on remote farms might board, but it wa not as common for city boys to board. In part becaise the schools were in the cities. Thus perhaps somewhat older boys wore sailor suits in New Zealand.

Pants

New Zealand was settled by the British much later than America. It only became a colony in the 1840s and the Maoris still outnumbered the Maori in the 1850s. Large scale immigration began in the 1860s and 70s. This was about the time that that boys in England were beginning to wear kneepants more commonly than long pants. By the turn-of-the century most New Zealand boys, even quite old boys wore kneepants. Short pants style popularized by the Scout movement and the large numbers of New Zealand soldiers participating in the British campaign in Palestine. Thus after World War I (1914-18) most New Zealand boys wore short pants. This did not begin to change until the 1960s, although secondary-level schoolboys continued wearing short pants school uniform.

Hosiery

British boys mostly wore long stockings during the late 19th century, in part because of the climate. This was less true in New Zealand, except when dressing up. Boys were more likely to wear stockings and shoes for formal occasions. The same pattern continued in the 1910s when bous began wearing short pants instead of kneepants. They would commonly go barefoot, but would wear shoes and long stockings and later kneesocks when dressing up.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing national pages:
[Return to the Main countries page]
[Australia] [Belgium] [England] [France] [Germany] [Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [Korea] [Mexico] [Netherlands] [New Zealand] [Scotland] [United States]

Created: February 7, 2002
Last updated: March 18, 2003