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Historical Girls' Clothing: Countries--German

German identical dresses
Figure 1.--Here we see a German family, probably in the 1910s. Notice the girls are wearing identical dresses, although their hair bows are different.

We do not know much about German girls fashions in the 18th century, but have acquired quite a bit of information beginning in the 19th century. Girls wore dresses and skirts in the 19th century and much of the 20th century. This was a pattern observeable throughout Europe, although the time line varied from country to country. There was a wide range of different dress styles. Sailor styles as with the boys were especially popular in Germany, but were only one of many different styles. Some garments, especially hosiery and footwear was the same or identical. We first see girls wearing other garments in the early-20th century when girls began wearing bloomer and romper outfits for school gym classes. We later see girls wearing short pants for Hitler Youth athletic activities, but the offocial uniform was a blouse and skirt. It was not until after the World War II that we see girls wearing shorts or long pants, but this was only for casual or play activities. World War I and II had a huge impact on fashion in America and Britain, primarily because of war mobilization, many women entered the indistrial work force for the first time. This was less true of Germany. Even during World War II, the NAZIs resisted using adult women in the industrial work force, instead using slave and forced labor from the occupied countries. For the most part, German girls continued wearing skirts and dresses into the 1960s. The popularity of Jeans in the late-1960s and 70s was was a major factor in changing girls clothing trends. We have not yet have much information on German girls' fashions. We have archived large numbers of images of German girls in the HBC boys section. We have not yet, however, assessed the fashion trends depicted there. We note German sisters in the 1920s. Dressing sisters in identical dresses was very common in Germany, but varied from family to family.

Chronology

We do not know much about German girls fashions in the 18th century, but have acquired quite a bit of information beginning in the 19th century. Girls wore dresses and skirts in the 19th century and much of the 20th century. This was a pattern observeable throughout Europe, although the time line varied from country to country. World War I and II had a huge impact on fashion in America and Britain, primarily because of war mobilization, many women entered the indistrial work force for the first time. This was less true of Germany. Even during World War II, the NAZIs resisted using adult women in the industrial work force, instead using slave and forced labor from the occupied countries. For the most part, German girls continued wearing skirts and dresses into the 1960s. The popularity of Jeans in the late-1960s and 70s was was a major factor in changing girls clothing trends. We have not yet have much information on German girls' fashions. We have archived large numbers of images of German girls in the HBC boys section. We have not yet, however, assessed the fashion trends depicted there. We note German sisters in the 1920s.

Garments

German girls wore the same garment types as other European girls. Headwear was mostly hats. German girls wore either dresses in the 19th century. Blouses and skirts were also worn, but we are not entirely sure yet just how common they were. A few girls may have worn other garments, but the photographic record suggests that it was rare. And girls continued wearing mostly dresses and skirts in the first half of the 20th century as well. German girls wore a wide range of different dress styles. Sailor styles as with the boys were especially popular in Germany, but were only one of many different styles. We have several gender page in the HBC German section. We have a German lace collar gender page. This complicates our garment section somewhat because elements like collars and sleeves are found on both dresses and blouses/shirts. Some garments, especially hosiery and footwear was the same or identical. The virtually universal fashion of wearing dresses only begun to change after World War I. We first see girls wearing other garments in the early-20th century when girls began wearing bloomer and romper outfits for school gym classes. We later see girls wearing short pants for Hitler Youth athletic activities, but the offocial uniform was a blouse and skirt. Gradually we begin to see them wearing other kinds of pants. At the end of the World War II we even see a few girls wearing long pants, mostly during the winter for warmth. We gradually see girls wearing shorts or long pants, but this was at first only for casual or play activities. Still girls mostly wore dresses. We do not see major changes until the 1960s, especially the late-60s as jeans began to become popular with teenagers. This was when a kind of pan-European fashion began to develop.

Styles

Dressing children in identical clothing was a popular convention in Germany. Dressing sisters in identical dresses was very common in Germany, but varied from family to family. Sometimes younger boys wore similar or coordinated outfits as well. One very popular style for both boys and girls was the sailor style.

Ages









HGC




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Created: 10:11 PM 11/20/2010
Last updated: 12:10 AM 5/9/2015