Figure 1.--Most American boys wore knee pants during the 1900s decade. Here we see an unidentified boy in a knee pants suit and his older brother in a long pants suit. This has to be the 1900s. Boys his age wore knickers in the 1910s.

Knee pants continued to be widely worn in the 1900s. Almost all boys wore knee pants, even some older teenagers during the 1900s. They were worn both with suits as well as for play and casual wear. Most boys wore knee pants to school in the 1900s. A good example is Harry Lodge about 1908. Some boys wore knickers, but knee pants were much more common. As common as knee pants were in the 1900s, it is surprising how rapidly they were replaced by knickers. Styles changed dramatically in the late 1900s. Most boys in the 1910s wore knickers, although we see younger boys still wearing knee pants. Knickers were the dominant type of pants during the 1910s. An exception here was boys in rural areas who by the 1910s were commonly wearing overalls. Younger boys commonly wore bluses with knee pants as well as knee pants suit. A good example is Floyd Van Horne wearing a knee pants Norfolk suit about 1915. This continued into the early- 20s. We continue to see younger boys wearing knee pants into the early 1920s. Button-on outfits were popular for the younger boys. It was knickers, however, that dominated the decade. We rarely see knee pants in the 1930s.

The 1900s

Knee pants continued to be widely worn by American boys in the 1900s. We see almost all boys and many teenagers wearing knee pants dyring the decade. Older boys wearing knee pants was most common at the turn-of-the 20th century. Almost all boys wore knee pants, even some older teenagers during the 1900s. The peak era for knee pants was the 1890s and 1900s. We even see boys in rural areas commonly wearing knee pants in the 1900s. They were much more of a city fashion in the 1890s. They were worn both with suits as well as for play and casual wear. Knee pants continued to be worn at knee level as was the style that became prevalent in the 1890s. Most boys wore knee pants to school in the 1900s. A good example is Harry Lodge about 1908. Some boys wore knickers, but knee pants were much more common. As common as knee pants were in the 1900s, it is surprising how rapidly they were replaced by knickers. Styles changed dramatically in the late 1900s. While many boys began wearuing knickers at the end of thecade, we note that boys continued to wear black long stockings wih both knee pants and knickers. Yonger boys often wore white thre-quarter socks or stockings.

The 1910s

Most American boys in the 1910s wore knickers rather than knee pants. We still see some knee pants suits, especially in the early 1910s. For the most part, however, most boys wore knickers. We are not sure why the sharp shift from knee pants to knickers occurred in the late-1900s and early 1910s. It did not occur in other countries, except for Canada. It is not clear why this only occurred in America and Canada. We do see younger boys still wearing knee pants. There wre a lot of juvenile outfits like Oliver Twist suits made with knee pants for little boys. Knickers were the dominant type of pants during the 1910s. An exception here was boys in rural areas who by the 1910s were commonly wearing overalls. Younger boys commonly wore bluses with knee pants as well as knee pants suit. A good example is Floyd Van Horne wearing a knee pantts Norfolk suit about 1915. Black long stoickings cotinued to be the dominant form of hosiery for the older boys, but yonger boys often wore white socks or stockings.

The 1920s

Knickers continued to be the primary type of pants worn by boys in the 1920s. School portraits show almostall of the boys wearing knickes, althoug we see the older high school boys wearing long pants. We continue to see younger boys wearing knee pants into the early-1920s. Button-on outfits were popular for the younger boys. It was knickers, however, that dominated the decsde.

The 1930s

We rarely see knee pants in the 1930s. We still see knee pasnts in Europe during the 30s, especiall knee pasns suits. They are no longer seen in America by the 30s.

Created: 6:57 PM 1/30/2009
Last updated: 6:57 PM 1/30/2009