Figure 1.--This cardboard framed portrait looks like it was taken in the late-1920s or early-30s. Two happy brothers are dressed in classic inter-War war. Notice that they are wearing ties with sweaters rather than suits which woulkd have been more likely worn before World War I. Two brothers are wearing wool sweaters and knickers in bold patterns. The portrait was taken in Jacksonville, Illinois. Notice how the boys have tucked tgheir sweaters into their pants.

We do begin to see American boys wearing sweaters in large numbers during the 20th century. The numbers in the 1900s seem limited. Interestingly we don't see boys commonly wearing them either to work or to school. We see them more in the 1910s and even more so in the 1920s. Until this, ASmerican boyswore suits to school. Wesee boysion the1910s beginning to replace suit jasckets with sweaters. They became a very common garment, both for school and for casual wear. A wide variety of styles gradually developing. A factor here is that the popularity of suits, especially for school declined. The sweater became a staple for schoolwear in the 1920s. They were actually part of the increasing informality in dress. We see boys wearing ties with sweaters rather than suits for semi-formal events. We not only notice many boys wearing sweaters in the amateur snapshots that appear in large numbers and in portraits. Parents after World War I began to see sweaters as suitable for formal portraits. We see many different kinds of sweaters in the 20th century. Not only do we see heavy weaters, but we begin to see lighter, less bulky garments. We also see many different styles. We notice both plain sweaters and sweaters with bold patterns. They were worn throughout the century. Usage was both seasonal and regional. Sweaters were not quite as popular by the end of the century. Here factors like central heating and the shift of the population south (because of air conditioning) after World War II were factors here.

The 1900s

We do begin to see American boys wearing sweaters in large numbers during the 20th century. The numbers in the 1900s seem limited. Interestingly we don't see boys commonly wearing them either to work or to school. Boys mostly wore suits and we don't see sweaters under them in the photogrphic record. And we don't see seaters to any exctent for play or school.

The 1910s

We see sweaters in numbers for the first time in the 1910s. Until this, American boys wore suits to school. We see boy in the 1910s beginning to replace suit jasckets with sweaters. They became a very common garment, both for school and for casual wear. We see this most clearly in school portraits becasuse these photographs were such a common feature of school life. This provided us a wonderful record of the popular fashion of the day. A wide variety of sweater styles gradually developing. We see two in the 1910s. A factor here is that the popularity of suits, especially for school declined. Suddenly we do see sweaters, quite a number of them. The first 1910s sweaters tended to be heavy bulky garments. We see boys sporting heavy cardigan sweaters, what we would call letterman sweaters today. They were often worn with ties, just like suit jasckets. We also see quite a number of even heavier roll neck sweaters. Sweaters in the 1910s seem more popular with the boys than the girls.

The 1920s

We see even more sweasters in the 1920s. The sweater became a staple for schoolwear in the 1920s. They were actually part of the increasing informality in dress. We see boys wearing ties with sweaters rather than suits for semi-formal events. We not only notice many boys wearing sweaters in the amateur snapshots that appear in large numbers and in portraits. Parents after World War I began to see sweaters as suitable for formal portraits. We see many different kinds of sweaters in the 20th century. Not only do we see heavy weaters, but we begin to see lighter, less bulky garments. We also see many different styles. We notice both plain sweaters and sweaters with bold patterns. They were worn throughout the century. Usage was both seasonal and regional.

The 1930s

Here we see boys wearing moderately patterned sweaters wethink in theearly-30s, but the late-20s are certainly possible. They are V-neck sweaters so they could be worn with ties.

The 1940s

Sweaters were popular garments in the 1940s. At the beginning of the century boy wore suit jackets and not all that many had wseaters. By the 1940s, biys were wearing sweatersv nmuvh more commnly than suits. Quite a few biys wore sweaters instread of a suit jacket, especially boy from the lower income spectrum. A variety of styles were worn, pullovers with a variety of neck styles. Both sleeveless and sleeved styles were available. Cardigans were still popoular for boys. Cardigan were worn by older boys in highschool--the sdtyle to display letters won in athletics. Sweaters came in a wide variety of colors and patterns as well as solid-colored flat weaves. Sweaters were useful garments and very versatile. They can be worn for dressing up, school, play, and outdoorwear in chilly weather. The only problem for boys is that they are some times taken off when it warms up and thus can be easily lost

The 1950s

The 1960s

Sweaters were not quite as popular by the end of the century. Here factors like central heating and the shift of the population south (because of air conditioning) after World War II were factors here.

Created: 11:08 PM 10/13/2011
Last updated: 6:21 AM 9/25/2020