Figure 1.-- Here we see Swiss kindergarteners at a Zurich primary school (March 13, 1950). Notice that four of the boys are wearing short trousers with both belts and leather suspenders, a style that was common in Germany and Switzerland for small boys whose pants tended to fall down without double security measures. Another boy at the top wears suspender shiorts with straps that buttoned on to the shorts. Also it is noticeable that the suspenders are worn on top of sweaters rather than underneath them. Three of the boys are also wearing the fashionable beige long stockings that became increasingly noticeable from the 1930s onwards in Europe. One boy on the right in the second row is obviously wearing the ordinary Leibchen or "garter shirt" that most mothers chose for children up to at least ten years old. The 1950s form of this standard underwear item usually buttoned down the front for easier management and had four elastic supporters attached (two in front, and two on the sides towards the rear) You can see the rubber button and loop clasp on the boys upper thigh. Notice also the felt slippers that the children seem to be wearing for indoor play and instruction. Most boys wore hightop shoes for winter weather outside but changed to felt slippers when they arrived at school. This custom avoided tracking snow and outdoor litter into the classroom and also made the children more comfortable.

An important aspect of wearing trousers and pants was how to hold them up. This was ca special program for boys. Girls wearing dresses did not have this problem, although they did for skirts. Younger children tended to be slender without noticeable hips which made trouser or skirt suspension a special problem. There were several sollutions to the problem of trouser suspension. Suspenders were the primarily method of suspension in the 19th century for both men and boys. This continued in the 20th century until after World War I. We see many Swiss boys wearing suspenders in the early 20th century. Suspender pants and H-bar pants became very common for younger boys. We are not sure how common button-on clothes were in Switzerland. This was a popular style in America, but it seems that suspenders were much more common in Switzerland. This seems to be the case of several European countries. Older boys by the 1930s were increasingly wearing belts. We notice that even after belts had become popular, we see younger boys wearing suspenders with belts (figure 1).

Problem

An important aspect of wearing trousers and pants was how to hold them up. This was ca special program for boys. Girls wearing dresses did not have this problem, although they did for skirts. Younger children tended to be slender without noticeable hips which made trouser or skirt suspension a special problem.

Suspension Types

There were several sollutions to the problem of trouser suspension. Suspenders were the primarily method of suspension in the 19th century for both men and boys. This continued in the 20th century until after World War I. We see many Swiss boys wearing suspenders in the early 20th century. Suspender pants and H-bar pants became very common for younger boys. We are not sure how common button-on clothes were in Switzerland. This was a popular style in America, but it seems that suspenders were much more common in Switzerland. This seems to be the case of several European countries. Older boys by the 1930s were increasingly wearing belts. We notice that even after belts had become popular, we see younger boys wearing suspenders with belts (figure 1). A HBC reader, Tom, tells us avout the suspenders he wore with a belt during the 1940s, "Notice my suspenders here. The suspenders were made out of leather. The two front-straps joined into one in the back. Where the belt is, there were loops at each end of the suspesnders through which the belt could be slided. As I was a very skinny kid and had no hips, my pants were always falling down. So, my parents made me wear this contraption. I did not want to wear the traditional suspenders made out of rubber. These suspenders also allowed me to wear my scout-belt. I was proud of my Scout built belt and wanted to wear it even when not wearing my Scout uniform."

Age

Chronology

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Created: 3:08 AM 3/9/2010
Last updated: 7:55 PM 2/14/2011