School Uniform Garments: Pants--Chronological Trends


Figure 1.--Short pants school uniforms were widely worn in Britain during the 20th century. They declibed in popularity toward the end of the century. These boys are playing rounders, aort of simpole baseball, which is why they are wearing smeakers instead of the required leather shoes abd sandals. They are waiting their turn at bat.

We notice boys mostly wearing long pants to school in the early 19th century. Younger boys began wearing shortened-length pnts at mid-century. But this was largely pre-school boys are boys from fashionable families that did not attend state schools. We continue to see most long pants in the 1870s and 80s. Only Gradually shortened-lenth patterns became more common and by the 1890s were srandard boys wear. There were variations from contry to country and even regions within country. Most American boys wore knee pants by the 1890s, but we see knickers and bloomer knickers being worn in Europe. American boys switched to knickers in 1910. Many boys in rural areas wore overalls. Both knickers and overalls remained popular until World War II. European boys shifted to short pants which remained popular in the post-War era. In England this often meant grey shorts worn as school uniform. Long pants for older boys were commonly grey or black. Japanese primary boys also commonly wore short pnts, both at schools with and without uniforms. Older boys in Europe wore knickers. We continue to see some European boys wearing knickers into the 1950s. Long pants became more popular after World War II, first in America, but gradually in Europe as well. We begin to see some American boys wearing casual short pants to school in the 1970s. American schools also began adopting uniforms. Short pants were often optional.

The 19th Century

We notice boys mostly wearing long pants to school in the early 19th century. Younger boys began wearing shortened-length pnts at mid-century. But this was largely pre-school boys are boys from fashionable families that did not attend state schools. We continue to see most long pants in the 1870s and 80s. Only Gradually shortened-lenth patterns became more common and by the 1890s were srandard boys wear. There were variations from contry to country and even regions within country. Most American boys wore knee pants by the 1890s, but we see knickers and bloomer knickers being worn in Europe.

The 20th Century

The pants boys wore to sdchool in the 20th century varied quite a bit, both chronologically and from country to country. Knee pants were very common in the early-20th century. American boys switched to knickers in the 1910s. Yomnger boys might wear knee pants or later short psnts, but most boys wore knickers to scgool. Overalls became popular in rural areas. Both knickers and overalls remained popular until World War II. Similar trends were common in Canada. European boys shifted to short pants after Wold War I (1914-18) which remained popular in the post-War era. Similar trends could be observed in all the major countries (England, France, Germany, and Italy) as well as many other countries. In England this often meant grey shorts worn as school uniform which became mpre popular after World War II. Long pants for older boys were commonly grey or black. Japanese primary boys also commonly wore short pants, both at schools with and without uniforms. Older boys in Europe wore knickers. We continue to see some older European boys wearing knickers into the 1950s. Long pants became more popular after World War II, first in America, but gradually in Europe as well, especiall during the winter. Long pants became increasingly common for school wear during the 1960s. We begin to see some American boys wearing casual short pants to school in the 1970s. Some schools began adoptuing uniforms. American schools also began adopting uniforms. Short pants were often optional. By the end of the century we even see girkls wearing long pnts to school.

The 21st Century










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Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s/a>] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s]



Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits] [Jacket and trousers] [Blazer] [School sandals]



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Created: 9:22 AM 5/18/2009
Last updated: 7:08 AM 7/27/2011