Figure 1.--Blazers worn with short pants and knee socks were once standard for English school boys. Today most Ebnglish boys wear long pants uniforms. |
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Boys have worn a variety of trousers or pants as part of school uniforms. We note breeches, long pants, knee pants, bloomer knickers, and knickers. For several centuries boys and men wore breeches. There was no difference in the breeches worn by boys and men. The first recognizable school uniforms appeared in English charity schools and were primarily designed to provide inexpensive clothing to the charity children and to identify them. Mostof these uniforms involved knee breeches, alyhough this was not different then the breeches worn by other boys. > The long pants so common among school children today first appeared at the turn of the 19th century. Curiously, at the time it was boys who wore the long trousers and men who wore kneebreeches. Long pants dominated at schools until after mid-century when various styles of shortened length pants became more popular for boys. Long pants did not become the primary pants for boys until after World War II (1939-45), although the pattern and chronology varied from country to country. Knickers appeared in England after the mid-19th century. They were soon adopted for schoolwear at many prestigious English private schools as well as state schools. Many English boys in the late 19th century and American boys in the early 20th century wore wore knickers to school. Knickers did not become popular in America until the 1910s, especially after World War I (1914-18). Kneepants appeared after the mid-19th century and were worn bu boys throught Europe and America. They were particularly popular in America and most boys wore them to school, although not part of a uniform. Kneepants were still widely worn in America at the turn of the century, but declined in popularity during the 1910s. Short pants are the most modern or recently developed style of male trousers. English boys in the 20th century have mostly worn long or short pants. They were popular throughout Europe. They did not prove as popular in America. The popularity of these various types of varied chrononlofically, but there are many factors besides fshion that have affected the different types, including seasonality, social class, and age conventions. There have also been differences from country to country.
There were also specialized forms of these various types of panrs. Most boys and their families have chosen the type of pants, but some schools had school uniforms and the school made the decission.
For several centuries boys and men wore breeches. There was no difference in the breeches worn by boys and men. The first recognizable school uniforms appeared in English charity schools and were primarily designed to provide inexpensive clothing to the charity children and to identify them. Mostof these uniforms involved knee breeches, alyhough this was not different then the breeches worn by other boys. The knee breeches worn by 17th century schoolboys are still worn by boys at some traditional English hospital schools, often referred to as bluecoat schools.
The long pants so common among school children today first appeared at the turn of the 19th century. Curiously, at the time it was boys who wore the long trousers and men who wore kneebreeches. Long pants dominated at schools until after mid-century when various styles of shortened length pants became more popular for boys. Long pants did not become the primary pants for boys until after World War II (1939-45), although the pattern and chronology varied from country to country. Today most boys wear long pants to school both as part of a uniform or when the children are allowed to choose their own clothes. While long pants are dominate--there still are quite a number of countries where boys wear short pats to school.
Knickers appeared in England after the mid-19th century. They were soon adopted for schoolwear at many prestigious English private schools as well as state schools. Many English boys in the late 19th century and American boys in the early 20th century wore wore knickers to school. Knickers did not become popular in America until the 1910s, especially after World War I (1914-18). They were very widely worn by American sdchoolboys into the early 1940s. They were less common in England, but one school continued to have a knickerr iniform into the 1990s. They were also worn by boys in Europe--usually the older boys. Knickers passed from the fashion seen after World War II. One school in London, however, still uses them as part of the school uniform.
Kneepants appeared after the mid-19th century and were worn bu boys throught Europe and America. They were particularly popular in America and most boys wore them to school, although not part of a uniform. Kneepants were still widely worn in America at the turn of the century, but declined in popularity during the 1910s.
Short pants are the most modern or recently developed style of male trousers. English boys in the 20th century have mostly worn long or short pants. Senior boys in English schools wore long grey or black trousers. Most elementary boys and some secondary schoolboys (at least in the first 2 years) wore short trousers. These were worn both in the summer and winter term, with no seasonal change. Apparently the English until the 1960s did not think it unusual to send boys off to school in short pants in the middle of the winter. Private schools in the 1970s began introducing summer and winter uniforms. A few private schools kept even older boys in shorts. Various materials were used. Flannel shorts were still worn, but were being repaced with other materials, especially rayon-nylon, and terylene worsted. Some schools adopted hard-wearing cotton corduory, usually in grey. A few schools used light-weight cotton shorts during the summer. They were popular throughout Europe. They did not prove as popular in America.
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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