Figure 1.--This French elementary class about 1950 shows the boys wearing a wide variety of clothes. Clicknhere for an analysis of the clothes worn by these boys.

I believe that smocks were still commonly worn in the 1950s, although by increasingly younger boys. Their use vasried substantially from school to school. A French contributor to this site tells me that he wore smocks as an elementary schoolboy during the late 1950s and early 60s, but did not wear a beret. Avaialble images show that in the 1940s and 50s, they were still common, but at many schools were only worn by a minority of the children. A few images show all the boys in smocks. Perhaps a few schools required them. While smocks were decling in the 1950s, French boys still commonly wore short pants. Smocks and shorts began to disappear in the 1960s, especilly after the Paris student riots of 1968. Of course it was not the elementary children rioting, but actions of the older children soon filtered down to the younger children.

Chronolgical Trends

The post-war era can be devided into two eras, the immediate post-war era (1945-54) when conditions were still very poor and the recovery period (1955-69) when the economy began to revive.

Immediate post-war era (1945-54)

The economic infastrure of France, especially the railroads were bady damaged in the war. Little money was available for clothes, especially boys' clothes. Economic conditions were desperate until after the U.S. Marshall Plam began to stimulate the economy in 1948. Avaialble images show that in the 1940s and early 50s, they were still common. Styles were similar to the 1930s. At many schools, smocks were only worn by a minority of the children. A few images show all the boys in smocks. Perhaps a few schools required them. While smocks were decling in the 1950s, French boys still commonly wore short pants. Suspender shorts were particularly common.

Recovery period (1955-69)

Economic conditions improved markedly in the mid 1990s as France and German entered aprolonged period of economic expansion. Smocks continued declining in poopularity. Shortscwere still common and a new shorter style became stylish. Shorts began to disappear on older boys in the 1960s. Suspender shorts were no longer worn by even younger boys who also no longer wanted to dress up in shorts. They were willing to wears shorts as casual clothes in the summer. Styles changed markedly after the Paris student riots of 1968.Of course it was not the elementary children rioting, but actions of the older children soon filtered down to the younger children

Styles

The traditional French school smock declined in popularity in post-war France. Boys mostly wore short pants, but this also began to change bu the 1960s.

Berets

Berets were not commonly worn at school after the War, although they were worn by Scouts. I'm not sure why the beret disappeared from French schools.

Smocks

I believe that smocks were still commonly worn in the 1950s, although by fewer and increasingly younger boys. Their use varied substantially from school to school. The smocks observed in the 1940s and early 50s were mostly back buttoning smocks, but ny the late 1950s, the back buttoning style had become increasingly imprtant. A French contributor to this site tells me that he wore smocks as an elementary schoolboy during the late 1950s and early 60s. The smock rapidly declined in popularity during the 1960s. Two facyors probably explain this trend. One, the 1960s were a time of risig prosperity. France had moved beyond the economic depression following the World War II. It was no longer as important to protect clothes, as parents could simplly replace torn or stained clothes, yhus the importance of the smock declined. Second, boys were exering more influence on their clothes and many did not want to wear smocks.

Suits

French boys in the inter-war era commonly wore suits to school. After the war, school seems a more casual place with boys rarely wearing suits, but rather open necked shirts amd sweaters in the cooler weather.

Pants

Almost all French boys wore short pants year round in the 1940s. Even older boys wore shorts in the 1940s and early 50s. This was not only fashion, but the economic problems following the War mean that some families had to put off buying children new clothes as long as possible. As a result, some teenagers wore their short pants suit a year or two longer than they might have in more prosperous times. This began to change in the 1950s and by the late 50s, older boys less commonly wore shorts. This trend comtinued in the 1960s when shorts increasingly became casual summerwear.

Shoes

Shoesvaried widely. Many boys wore sandals, especially in the warmer months. This became less common in the 1960s.

Socks

Ankle spcks beca,e increasingly common after World War II, even with short pants. Boys still wore kneesocks. but in the 1950s kneesocks ere increasingly worn in the cooler winter months.

Individual Schools

The popularity of contemporary fashions can be seen by looking at some individial schools.

Unknown school, about 1950

At this school almost all boys wore short pants. Some wore smocks, but they were a minority.

Created: February 4, 2000
Last updated: February 4, 2000