Figure 1.--Here we see six best buddies. Note the flat caps, knickers, and long black stockings. The setting suggests they were living in a big city tentament. The photograph is undated, but looks like the 1910s to us because rge boys seem to be wearing knickers..

Styles for boys pants/trousers changed very substantially during the 1910s. The bigest shift was from knee pants to knickers. This fashion change began in the late-1900s. Knickers had largely replaced knee pants except for younger boys. This was a process begun in the late 1900s. Knickers were the principal type of pants worn by American boys. Boys commonly wore above-the-knee knickers. They were almost entirely worn with black long stockings. A few boys wore them with knee socks, but long stocking were much more common. For the first time, American and European boys were dressing in very destinctive ways. This same fashion shift did not take place in Europe. We see boys of all ages wearing knickers, but not as many older teenagers that were wearing knee pants in the 1900s. We begin to see the older boys in high school more commonly wearing long pants, but knickers were still worn in high schools. Knee pants did not entirely disappear. They continued to be worn, but mostly by younger boys. We note many younger boys wearing tunic suits with bloomer knickers. There were also Oliver Twist suits, mostly worn with knee pants rather than bloomer knickers. These outfits, both tunic suits and Oliver Twist suits were mosly worn by boys from more affluent families. Overalls became very common for boys in rural areas. We begin to see them in the late-1900s, but in thrughout the1910s they were very common. We are not entirely sure why overalls seem to have suddently appeared in the late-1900s. You would have thought they souuld have been widely worn in the 1900s and late-19th century. But it is the 1910s when they become widely worn. We see see almost all the boys at some rural schools wearing them. While the pants worn by boys changed with the adoption of knickers, one thing that did not change for school-age boys was the hosiery. Knickers were almost entirely worn with long stockings. Black long tockings were very common, especially for boys. This was also true in the 1900s with boys wearing knee pants. A few boys wore knickers with knee socks, but long stocking were much more common. Long stockings were also very common with girls.

Major Shift

Styles for boys pants/trousers changed very substantially during the 1910s. The bigest shift was from knee pants to knickers. This was a process begun in the late 1900s. We see some boys wearuing knickers earlier, but straight=leg knee pants were much more common. We begin to seen at the end of the 1900s in 1908 and 09. Knickers very quickly replaced knee pants except for younger boys. Knickers became the principal type of pants worn by American boys. Boys commonly wore above-the-knee knickers. We are not sure why this shift occurred so dramaticaly and so quickly. Within the same of 2-3 years, American boys went from a style they had been wearing for decades to a new style.

Age

We see boys of all ages wearing knee pants/knickers in the 1900s including some older teenagers. During the 1910s we see older teenagers mostly wearing long pants. Almost all school age biys wore knickers. Knee pants had not yet disappeared and some younger boys wore them. Knickers were, however the dominant trouser type. Many younger teenagers wore knickers. The age at which a boy changed from knickers to long pants varies from family to family. Generally it seems to have been some time from about 13-16 years of age. The process could be drawn out. A boy might get a suit with two pairs of pants, one knickers the other long pants. The long pants may have been dave for specialmoccassions. Here there were no hard set rules. Parents had different thoughts on the matter. Here there were a range of socio-economic and demographic issues as well as family tradions involved. The principal issue seems to have neen age suitability. Finally getting long trousers seems to hasve been a recognition bu the parents thst the boy was growing up. Structer more conservative parents tended to insist on knickers longer than more easy going parents. Thus while boys mostly wore knickers, we see more of a variety as the boys get older, especially during the teen years.

Younger Boys Outfuts

Knee pants did not entirely disappear. They continued to be worn, but mostly by younger boys. We note many younger boys wearing tunic suits with bloomer knickers. There were also Oliver Twist suits, mostly worn with knee pants rather than bloomer knickers. These outfits, both tunic suits and Oliver Twist suits were mosly worn by boys from more affluent families. Overalls became very common for boys in rural areas. We begin to see them in the late-1900s, but throughout the 1910s they were very common.

Overalls

We are not entirely sure why overalls seem to have suddently appeared in the late-1900s. They were worn on the farm and by workers earlier, bur we do not see boys wearing them to school until the late-1900s. You would have thought they souuld have been widely worn in the 1900s and late-19th century. But it is the 1910s when they become widely worn. We see see almost all the boys at some rural schools wearing them. And this would continue into \the early-40s.

Hosiery

While the pants worn by boys changed with the adoption of knickers, one thing that did not change for school-age boys was the hosiery. Knickers were almost entirely worn with long stockings. Black long tockings were very common, especially for boys. This was also true in the 1900s with boys wearing knee pants. A few boys wore knickers with knee socks, but long stocking were much more common. Long stockings were also very common with girls.

American-European Variation

For the first time, American and European boys were dressing in very destinctive ways. This same fashion shift did not take place in Europe. We see boys of all ages wearing knickers, but not as many older teenagers that were wearing knee pants in the 1900s. We begin to see the older American boys in high school more commonly wearing long pants, but knickers were still worn in high schools.

Created: 1:55 AM 4/24/2007
Last updated: 1:18 AM 3/14/2011