Figure 1.--This snapshot shows an American brother and sister in 1967. The boy wears a yellow shortall with white knee socks and shoes. The shortall was at heart a play garment. But by adding a white blouse it could be turned into a more formal garment for younger boys. Notice how it is coordinated with his holder sister's dress.

Levi Straus came out with a bib-front version of its jeans for children in the 1920s. This was not a shortall, but it was certainly a related precursor. We have no information about who first made garments called shortalls or when they first appeared, but it does appear to have been late-1920s or early-30s. We see shortalls in the 1930s, although styling was highly variable. We know that shortalls were being sold in the early-1930s, although we are not sure when the term was first used. We note some outfits that look similar to shortalls in the 1930s. An example is Mississippi brothers in 1935. We also seem them in France during the 1930s. One source suggests that shortalls first appeared in the 1940s. I think this is more when tey began to become a popular style. HBC has begun to notice them in the 1950s. The shortalls appearing in the late 1950s and early 1960s, however, were not made of denim. Also the classic shortall did not have bib fronts, but rather wide shoulder straps and full fronts and backs. Shortalls declined in popularity during the late 1980s and are less common in the 1990s. They are now generally made in todler sizes only up to about 4 years. The legs of the outfits in the 1990s are generally cut much longer than those worn in the 1960s. Also the bib front style with only narrow bands over the shoulder crossing at the back are much more common than the classic shortall with fabric covering the entire front and back.

The 1920s

We have no information about who first made garments called shortalls or when they first appeared, but it does appear to have been late-1920s or early-30s. We see shortalls in the 1930s, although styling was highly variable. We know that shortalls were being sold in the early-1930s, although we are not sure when the term was first used. A good example is a DuBarry pattern that looks to date to 1932. The size was for 6 year olds. We note some outfits that look similar to shortalls in the 1930s. An example is Mississippi brothers in 1935. We also seem them in France during the 1930s.

The 1940s

The 1960s

Shortalls seem to have been a popular style in the 1960s. e think thy were mot popular among afflient families, meaning the prosperous middle class. President Kennedy's son John wore them when he was quite young to about 4 years old or so. which of course tended to popularize them. Here we see a boy wearing a shortall for a formal summer occassion. While designed as a play garment, adding a white blouse and knee socks turns it into a more formal garment, a light-colored yellow shortall for younger boys' summerwear in 1967 (figure 1). The boy lookd to be about 3 years old. He wears white shoes. We also see bpys wearing saddle shoes with shortalls. A good example is Gregor James Hoffman of Scarlesdale, New York who looks to be about 4 years old. He is all dressed up for Easter and holds his Easter basket (April 1968). He wears a woolen shirtall donebin a dark plaid. It is worn with an open collar vlouse, ehite ankle socks and saddle shoes.

The 1970s

We continue to see shortalls in the 1970s. They were not as common as in the 1960s, but were still worn by some very young primary school boys. The primary age group was pre-school, but we see some boys in first abd even 2nd grade wearing them, although not commonly to school. We note them less commonly being woirn for play and incresing as smart casual dress, often with knee socks. We see shortlls being worn even for formal portrits as well as parties and church. A factor here was that suits for boys were becoming less common, especially for younger boys. We also see fewer boys wearing blouses with Eton and Peter Pan collars. Regular pointed collars were becoming more common. We also see shortalls being done with oveall-type buckle straps rather than the continuous back-front fabric shoulder connection fairly universal in the 1960s. We aldo note less use of plaid material.

The 1980s

Shortalls declined sharply in popularity during the late-1980s, except for younger boys. Shortalls had become basucally a style for toddler biys.

The 1990s

Shortalls seem less common in the 1990s for boys beyond the toddler stage. We notice several firms spealizing in elegant clothing for younger children offered fancy shortalls. They were generally made in toddler sizes only up to about 4 years. The legs of the outfits in the 1990s are generally cut much longer than those worn in the 1960s. Also the bib front style with only narrow bands over the shoulder crossing at the back are much more common than the classic shortall with fabric covering the entire front and back.

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Created: 4:45 AM 4/20/2008
Last updated: 4:36 AM 5/27/2020