Figure 1.--This French postcard was mailed in 1918. It was a New Years caed and showed a boy and girl wearing leggings in the snow.

Leggings were a garment worn in Renaissanvce Europe if nor earlier. In terms of French children's wear, We have little historical information about French children wearing leggings, but we assume that they began to become popular in the 19th century when boys began to wear kneeoants. We have some information beginning at the turn of the 20th century. French children wore leggings made out of a white material, I think canvas. There were also knited leggings. They were never made in leather. They appear to have been quite common at the turn of the 20 century, at least for children from wealthy families. After World War I, dresses and pants became much shorter. Children wearing them during the Winter would experience very cold legs, especially as few children worn long stockings in France--unlike Germany. An American sociologist, after having lived in Provence for one year was surprised to see kids with frozen uncovered legs while their faces were hidden by scarves. Leggings were thus useful for French children in covering the leg without having to wear long stockings. French mothers were in a quandry. Doctors advied that children need fresh air. The short pants and dresses fashionable for children in the 1920s, however, did not seem suitable for Winter wear. Some mothers tirned to leggings to make sure the children were kept warm. This seems to have been especially true with children from affluent families. Leggings by the 1930s, however, were no longer commonly worn in France. We have few details in this, but note we have no images of French children wearing leggings after the 1930s. We suspect that some small children may have worm them into the 1950s.

Historical Eras

Leggings were a garment worn in Renaissanvce Europe if nor earlier. In terms of French children's wear, We have little historical information about French children wearing leggings.

The 19th Century

we assume that leggings began to become popular in the 19th century when boys began to wear kneeoants.

The 20th Century

We have some information beginning at the turn of the 20th century. French children wore leggings made out of a white material, I think canvas. There were also knited leggings. They were never made in leather. They appear to have been quite common at the turn-of-the 20 century, at least for children from wealthy families. We see them shown in post cards illustrating well dressed children. The 1918 post card here is a good example (figure 1). After World War I, dresses and pants became much shorter. Children wearing them during the Winter would experience very cold legs, especially as few children worn long stockings in France--unlike Germany. An American sociologist, after having lived in Provence for one year was surprised to see kids with frozen uncovered legs while their faces were hidden by scarves. Leggings were thus useful for French children in covering the leg without having to wear long stockings. French mothers were uin a quandry. Doctors advied that children need fresh air. The short pants and dresses fashionable for children in the 1920s, however, did not seem suitable for Winter wear. Some mothers turned to leggings to make sure the children were kept warm. We see them in fashion magazine illustrations. An example is La Mode Illuste (1920). Tghey were clearly seen as fashionable garments. This seems to have been especially true with children from affluent families. Leggings by the 1930s, however, were no longer commonly worn in France. We have few details in this, but note that we no longer see images of French children wearingb leggings after the 1930s. We suspect that some small children may have worm them into the 1950s.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main French garment page ]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Girls]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 10:18 PM 2/4/2005
Last updated: 8:58 PM 7/8/2011