Figure 1.--This German portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the early 1920s. He wears what look like long velvet button-on short pants. The one-piece suits that were worn before World War I were not much seen after the War, at least after the early-20s.

German boys extensively wore button-on clothes. We have noted many images of younger boys wearing button-on outfits. We do not yet have a complete chronology. We do not have any images from the 19th century, other than the skeleton suits worn in the early 19th century. This may in part reflect our limited archive of 19th century German archive. We have, however, numerous images from the early 20th century. Perhaps more common in Germany were suspender pants--both shorts and longs. We note numerous images of German boys wearing button-on clothing in the early 20th century, from the 1900s through the 20s. The photograph here shows a German boy about 1915 wearing a button-on suit and fancy blouse. We note two German brothers wearing button-on outfits in the 1920s. This German boy was photographed in a button-on suit during 1915 (figure 1). Notice the very large buttons. We note many one-piece suits before World War I, but after the War separate pants and shorts were much more common. The style seems to have declined in the 1930s. We see few such outfits by the 1940s.

Prevalence

German boys wore button-on clothes. We have noted many images of younger boys wearing button-on outfits. Perhaps more common in Germany were suspender pants--both shorts and longs, but button-on outfits were another choice. .

Chronology

We do not yet have a complete chronologyof bitton-on outfits, but are actively building one. We do not have any images from the 19th century, other than the skeleton suits worn in the early 19th century. This may in part reflect our limited archive of 19th century German archive. We know little about the first half of the 19th century, however, because photography was not invented until 1839 and not common until the CDV appeared (about 1860). We see butto-on outfits in early CDVs, This mean that button-hoes in the pants were sewn to match with nuttons on the shirt or blouse. The blouse either matched or were coordinated with the pants. The buttons in these outfits were often hidden in the 1860s and late-19th century. We have, however, numerous images from the early 20th century. We do not see the buttons be more prominently displayed until after the turn-of-the 20th century. We note numerous images of German boys wearing button-on clothing in the early-20th century, from the 1900s through the 20s. The photograph on the previous page shows a German boy about 1915 wearing a button-on suit and fancy blouse. After World War I we see many younger boys including some school-age boys wearing button-on outfits. The buttons often were prominantely displayed and were part of the styling. We note two German brothers wearing button-on outfits in the 1920s. This German boy was photographed in a button-on suit during 1915 (figure 1). Notice the very large buttons. We note many one-piece suits before World War I, but after the War separate pants and shorts were much more common. The style seems to have declined in the 1930s. We see fewer boys wearing such outfits by the 1940s. We continue to see these oufits into the 1970s, but for mostly pre-school boys.

Ages

The age of the boys wearing these button-on outfits varied over time.

Styles

Most button-on outfirs were coordinated or matching sets involving blouses or shirts coordinated with the pants. We also see suits ,eaning jackets and matching pants. These wre less commin than the suits.

Pants

These outfit were done with a variety of pants. The skeleton, the first purpose made boy's outfit. It was also a button-on outfit. Skeleton suits were mostly long pants suits. In the later-19th century we commonly see kne pants and to a lesser extent bloomer knickers. Sjort psnts became common in the 20th century.

Created: October 15, 2003
Last updated: 10:08 AM 12/21/2017