Lederhosen: Country Trends--England


Figure 1.-d.

English boys have never commonly worn lederhosen. Perhaps they were preceive as too German. They may have also been seen as a bit bizzare. Also English Scout groups were often strict about uniform regulations and did not permit non-official garments. After World War II some military families were stationed in Germany. Some of these boys brought lederhosen home to England when they returned. Other boys whose parents lived are worked abroad--especially on the Continent might wear lederhosen. They never were widely worn. This mostly occurred after World War II. The cultural exchanges that might have brought lederhosen to England were not encouraged by the NAZIs.

Chronology

They never were widely worn. This mostly occurred after World War II. The cultural exchanges that might have brought lederhosen to England were not encouraged by the NAZIs in the 1930s. This changed after Germany's defeat in World War II. Beginning in 1945 large numbers of British service personnel were stationed in Germany as part of the occupation forces. More British were exposed to Germany than ever before. Some service personnel brought their families and some of the British boys wore lederhosen like German boys. This declined as the occupation wound down in the 1950s and as boys increasingly began to wear jeans as leisurewear.

Conventions

English boys exclusively wore lederhosen as play or leisurewear. This contrasts with German boys who wore lederhosen as both play and camping wear as well as dressup outfits with a folk flare.

Popularity

English boys have never commonly worn lederhosen. A English contributor notes, however, they while English boys did not commonly wear lederhosen--neither were they complelely unknown. Perhaps they were preceive as too German. They may have also been seen as a bit bizzare. If an English boy appeares in lederhosen--he would be likely to be teased. That is a common characteristic of boys around the world. They tease other boys who wear different clothes. As a result, boys are often very conservative about their clothes.

Scouts

Also English Scout groups were often strict about uniform regulations and did not permit non-official garments. Lederhosen were wiely worn by youth groups in Germany as well as Scouts in many neighboring countries--incliding even some French Scouts. This did not occur in England.

Availability

One reason that English boys did not wear lederhosen was that they were not available in the stores. There were very few places where a mother who got the idea somehow that they would be a nice addition to their son's wardrobe coul buy them. And the ones that were availavle were of inferior quality.

English boys that did wear lederhosen wore pairs that were bought in Germany or Austria. Most English boys who did wear lederhosen, wore them because the were from military families that lived in Germany. After World War II some military families were stationed in Germany. Some of these boys brought lederhosen home to England when they returned. Other boys whose parents lived are worked abroad--especially on the Continent might wear lederhosen. A few boys wore lederhosen purchased while on vacations. But few boys wore lederhosen actually purchased in England.

Personal Experiences

Personal accounts of boys and lederhosen are as follows:

An English boy in Germany

My father was an English serviceman following the war and I was consequently brought up in military communities throughout the world. During the 1950's we lived mainly in England. As many service men had married German women while serving in Germany following the war even in England many boys wore lederhosen.

An English boy in London

I grew up in the 1950s and early 60s in a good middle class suburb of London. By my observations the wearing of lederhosen by boys was not common but neither was it rare. I had noticed a few other boys wearing them. Then my aunt bought a pair for me.

An English boy in Germany

An English reader tells us about a friend while his family was stationed in Germany. "One of my friends at school was Graham. When speaking with my brother, I asked him if he could recall any specific instances and, among others, he talked about one of my English schoolfriends whose German shorts became a topic of conversation among him and some of his chums, 4 or 5 years younger than me. Of course, I quickly remembered Graham and, although I have hardly thought about him for nearly 50 years, details soon came to mind and I have written an account, attached. We thought his father was wickedly cruel and the account, in a way, is as much about parental control as boys' clothing. It was rather poignant yesterday, talking to my brother about times past, as his 11 year old son hurtled around my house and garden, dressed for comfort and looking as happy as can be. What a contrast with Graham's life."

Cycling weekend

In the summer of 1960, when I was 14, I was able to spend a weekend away from boarding school in Dorset with a family we had known in Germany, and who now lived in Surrey, southwest of London. I travelled there and back by train, the weather was very hot and I perspired in my school uniform, it not having crossed my mind that I could take off tie and jacket now that I was away from the school authorities. The family made me most welcome at home, the only child being Roger, a year older than me, and somewhat taller. He attended a local school, cycling daily to and from home. The plan for the weekend was for us two to cycle about the countryside and just come home for meals. He had two bikes, so there was one for me.






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Created: March 15, 2001
Last updated: 8:53 PM 7/9/2007