Figure 1.--French schoolboys still wore smocks in the 1950s, but many did not. It was up to the parents. Also front buttoning smocks became nore common by mid-decade.

French boys still commonly wore school smocks after World War II (1939-45), but they were much less common than before the War. Photographs from the 1940s and early 1950s still show many boys in smocks. There appear to be, however, substantial variations. At some schools most boys seem to wear them, perhaps because of a school rule. At other schools very few boys appear to wear them. The popularity of smocks seems to decline by the late 1950s. They were worn into the 1960s, but were becoming less common than during the 1950s, except for younger boys. We still have only limited information on this period. Also by the 1960s, styles were changing, with back buttoning smocks becoming less common for boys.

Late 1940s

French boys still commonly wore school smocks after World War II (1939-45), but they were much less common than before the War. Photographs from the 1940s and early 1950s still show many boys in smocks. There appear to be, however, substantial variations. At some schools most boys seem to wear them, perhaps because of a school rule. At other schools very few boys appear to wear them.

The 1950s

French boys in the 1950s, especially the early 1950s commonly wore smocks. A HBC reader reports that boys wore front or back buttonning smocks everywhere; in the street, in visits; in Paris; during the holidays. They were still worn everywhere. Both parents and boys considered them to be ordinary scoolwear. Many boys wore smock throughout the school year. A French reder tells us tha wearing a smock would not commonly elicit remarks from other children, even those who not wearing them. This was especially true in the early 1950s. By the late 1950s, however, older boys wearing smocks might experince some mild teasing. Smocks and short pants were very common for boys at school in the early 1950s. Most boys looked on them as normal schoolwear. In the 1950s boys wore short pants commonly to 12-13 years of age while in primary school, although most boys by that age were no loger wearing smocks. Boys in secondary school normally did not wear smocks, but might wear short pants during the frst 2 years. Class photographs by he late 1950s sho only abut one in three boys at age 12-14 wearing short pants and virtually none wearing smocks. The popularity of smocks seems to decline by the late 1950s. They were worn into the 1960s, but were becoming less common than during the 1950s, except for younger boys.

The 1960s

Smocks were still commonly worn in the ealy 1960s, but not as common in the 1960s. In addition, styles were changing. Those boys that did wear smocks were much more likely to take them off after school. I addition older boys wre less likely to wear them to school. HBC still have only limited information on this period. Also by the 1960s, important changes were developing in the styles with back buttoning smocks becoming less common for boys. Increasingly it was younger boys in France who wee still wearing smocks. They were still very common in nursery schools, but lees and less commonly worn in ementary schools.