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French mail order catalogs and clothing advertisements offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. French boys in the 1980s commonly wore blazers when they dressed up. One catalog shows a blue blazer and khaki trousers--a rather American look. Boys wear variety of dressy and casual shorts. Dressy shorts might be worn with sweaters. Casual shorts, some with large patch pockets are worn ith sport looking shirts. Sport or jogging shorts were popular in the early 1980s. These were still cut short, but many other shorts were cut much longer. An especially good source of information is La Redoute catalog. We note younger boys wearing culotte anglaise (English shorts) for party clothes.
This firm targeted the popular market for middle income family. This is not a company we know much about. We do not know, for example, when the firm was established.
The French refer to long, knee-length short pants as English short pantse-- culotte anglaise. I do not know of any other country with the possible exception of Belgium in which this term is used. This term became common after World War II when French boys were wearing much shorter-cut short pants. As far as I knowm the English never called the shorter shorts French shorts. English boys wore longish cut shorts through the 1950s, but by the 1960s, Englisg boys were wearing the same short cut short pants popular in France and other Continental countries. A French reader provides us some background, "The term ' Culotte anglaise ' has been used in France for some time. The English short pants are cut longer than
French shorts at the time and had a fly. French shorts for boys under 10 generally did not have a fly. They also had a crease and hem. The colors were normaly grey, blue or white. They were made in a heavy material and always lined." British boys began shifting to continental-style shorts in the 1960s. English school children and Cubs by th 1970s were wearing the continental-style shots. The French concept of English shorts has change in recent years as Frnch boys in the 1990s began wearing longer cut shorts. Our French reader writes, "To day we call " culotte anglaise " the dressy short pants for a weding , visit , or
for school uniform. The casual mid-length short pants we call " short anglais ". The French have always considered from the 19th century that the English styles have look of class. We see the American styles as a casual look. Many rich or noble English families have for some time lived on the French Riviera. In Nice there is a seaside road called " Promenade des Anglais ". A few wealthy French children in the 20th century had an English look and sometimes an English nanny."
We note " Culotte anglaise " for 2-10 year old boys offered in the catalogue " Vert Baudet " Fall-Winter 1984-85. The heading "Chics, les habits fefê" which means "Smartness, party clothes". The pants have belt loops, are cut very low below the knee and are cuffed. The price for this outfit, however, is a little on the expensive side for the mid-1980s. The ad copy reads, "La culotte anglaise en flanelle: C Elle est entiérerment doublée par thermocollage et coupee dans une belle flanelle 45% POLYESTER , 30% LAINE, 15% ARCLIQUE, 10% AUTRES FIBRES. Ceinture a passants, braguette a glissiére. 2 poches italiennes et pinces sur le devant. Revers aux jambes. France." That translates as, "The English short pants in flanell: C A English short pants in Flanell. It is full lined by heat sealing and cut in a nice Flanell ; 40% Polyester ; 30% wool ; 15 Acrylic fiber; 10% others fibers. Belt with loop ; zip fly; two Italian pockets.
Dart sewing in front ; hem at the legs . Made in France. Sizes are from 2 to 10 years old . Prices : 95 francs to 127 francs " The sizes are from 2 to 10 years and range in price from Fr 95-127."
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