Figure 1.--I'm not sure when this ad for Billy the Kid jeans appeared in the United States, but it looks like the late 1950s. By this time jeans which had once become primarily worn by working men, were peimarily seen as children's pants. |
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Jeans are of course most associated with America where they originated and were first worn. For nearly a century after they were created, jeans were primarily worn in America and to some extent neighboring Canada by working men. Thus the early history of jeans is primarily an American story. American boys began wearing jeans more commonly in the 1910s with the development of Kovealls. It was only after World War II that jeans began to be worn by first teenagers and then younger children in Europe and eventually became a global phenomenon. Trends and time lines in individual countries vary widely. There are also stylistic variations among countries. One of the most significant is that short pants jeans, except cur-offs, were not very popular in America, but proved popular in Europe. At this time we have some information on America, but very limited information on other countries.
Jeans are of course most associated with America where they originated and were first worn. For nearly a century after they were created, jeans were primarily worn in America and to some extent neighboring Canada by working men. Thus the early history of jeans is primarily an American story. American boys began wearing jeans more commonly in the 1910s with the development of Kovealls. Boys except in rural areas did not wear ovealls to school. Boys wore commonly wore corduroy knickers, but after World War II jeans were very commonly worn to elementary (primary) schools. They wre not generally allowed in secondary school until the 1970s. Quite a range of different types of jeans and overalls begin to appear by the 1970s. One common ferature was that until the 1970s and apperance of cut-offs thery wre almost always long pants. Bu the 1970s designer jeans began to make their appearance.
An Australian reader tells us,"I wore jeans but in winter time and the latter part of autumn/fall and had suspenders with aligator clips on them. My mum used to buy mine and my fellow younger bother's one or two sizes larger so that they would fit us longer. I had those horrid flares too, but I hated them. My aunty used to cut away the flare part and they would be nicely cut trousers or slacks. My dad like me dressed in normal jeans or trousers, but in the early years I used to wear shorts all the time at least till about 12 or 13 years of age, except I wore school grey shorts to age 14 at my primary school."
It was only after World War II that jeans began to be worn by first teenagers and then younger children in England and eventually became a global phenomenon. Trends and time lines in individual countries vary widely. Short pants jeans, except cur-offs, were not very popular in America, but proved popular in England. Jeans were not considered suitable for schoolwear, even by children in primary school and this continues to be the case even today.
Jeans began to become popular with French teenagers in the 1950s. American moview were probably the major factor in spreading jeans to France Younger boy smostly wore jean shorts at first.
One important type of long pants is jeans. They were not worn in Germany before World War II. We see them in the early 50s, but they do not seem to become popular until the late-50s. A good example is an unidentified German boy in 1957. They were a major fashion item by the 1960s, especially with teenagers. Jeans were clear;y an American fashion import. We are not sure, however, just how jeans spread to Germany and the rest of Europe for that matter. Dis German see American dependant chuldren wearung them during the occupation. Did they note them in American cowboy movies? Did magazines begin picturing American fashions. Perhaps clothing companies began promoting American styles. We are not sure just how this happened. We do not see them bing worn to school. They apparently were first worn as play or casual clothing and were certainly not seen as fashionable. This began to change in the 1960s and by the 1970s jeans were a major fashion phenomenon..
Jeans were the first American import after World War II spam to crack the Iron Curtain.
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