Figure 1.--These boys wear rather conservative blue and brown sports jackets. Other 1973 catalog offerings show brighter colors. Note the bright colored shirt worn by one boy and the other boy shown without a tie. Also note the knee socks, suggesting that boys wore kneesocks with long pants. |
German mail order catalogs offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. German mail order catalogs in 1973 offered a variety of cery colorful garments. Catalogs
offered colorful shirts, ties, pants, and socks. Flare pants were popular as well as square-toed shoes. Polyester was also all the rage. Square toe shoe styles were popular, some in two colors. We note a variety of colorful kneesocks were available. Several company offered kneesocks in many different colors and patterns. Catalogs suggest that boys wore kneesocks with long pants.
We notice German boys wearing a wide range of jackets and coats for cool and cold weather.
Quelle offered two styles of jackets or blouson for cold weather wear. One was availaible ina bright orange, the other a more conservative blue. These were jackets for younger boys.
Boys wore rather English looking blazers and spots jackets mostly in single breasted styles. Many were offered in polyester. There were solid and bright patterns as well as cobservative dark browns and blues.
We have begun to acquire some informationnabout casual clothes. Here German catalogs oftem mix different kinds of garments on the same page.
Wenz in its 1973 catlog ofered a variety of casual outfits for younger boys and girls. Several of the outfit look to be beachwear. Also included on this page are lederhosen. We also notice short pants with patch pockets and brightly colored bib-front pants. Especially notable is the use of bright colors.
Shirts in 1973 tended to have large pointed collars. Shirts done on polyester were very popular.
Polyester was all the rage in 1973. Pants were available in solids and loud patterns. Flares were very popular.
Quelle offered two different styles of short pants for younger boys in its 1973 catalog. All were the short-cut continetal style. One was done in the supspender shorts style. They were available in tradition blue, black, and grey as well as bright colors like orange. The caption reads "Shorts sind Klasse! Das finden nicht nur die Jüngsten. Auch Mütter sind von Quelle-Shorts hellauf begeistert. Weil sie problemlos zu pflegen und so sagenhaft preiswert sind!"
Quelle offered three styles of bib-front pants for younger boys. Two were done in long pants and one in short pants. They were both solids and stripes. The long pants werecflares. There were both button and buckle closures for the bibfront. Each had two front pockets.
Lederhosen appeared to be popular for younger boys in the 1970s. There were even lederhosen styles made for girls. Until the 1970s girls always wore skirted outfits like drindels for folk costuming. They never wire lederhosen which were destinclive boys' garments.
Quelle in its 1973 catalog offered four styles of lederhosen, including a style just for girls. All were the short-cut continetal style. They were offered on styles with and without a halter. There were also pants more like suspender shorts done in a lederhosen style. These could be worn by bpys and girls, although they were styled differently.
Square toe shoes were popular in the early 1970s, some in two colors. We also notice boys wearing clogs.
Several company offered kneesocks in many different colors and patterns. There were also colorful ankle socks. Most winter ctalogs offered tights. Catalogs suggest that boys wore kneesocks with long pants.
Several company offered kneesocks in many different colors and patterns. There were also colorful ankle socks. Most winter catalogs offered tights. Many also show colorful kneesocks. Catalogs suggest that boys wore kneesocks with long pants. We are not sure what catalog comapny is shown here. The styles shown look to be prinmarily boys' kneesocks. The ankle socks shown are clearly boys's styles.
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