Figure 1.--More and more British boys were wearing long pants in the 1980s, alhough casual shorts were popular in the summer. Some primary and prep schools still required boys to wear short trousers as part of their school uniform. Boys at this school wore cord shorts.

Destinctive national styles largely declined although did not compleletly disappear in the 1980s, a ttend that was noticeable in the 1970s. A kinf of pan-European style heavily influenced by American fashion became adopted throughout Europe. Most American boys wore jeans or other long pants, especially when dressing up. Some younger boys might still wear shorts when dressing up, especiakky in the summer. Shorts were worn seasonally. American boys of all ages commonly wore casual shorts during the 1980s. There were some regional differences. often they were very short-cut shorts with white tube socks, sometimes with striped tops, along with tee shirts. Canadian trends seem very similar to those in America. French Canada’s clothing in the 1980s had lost much of its traditional Catholic conservatism. Most English boys wore long trousers, although shorts were popular seasonally during the summer. Although long trousers had become more common among English boys, we still see quite a number of schoolboys wearing the traditional short trousers. Long pants were widely worn in Germany. Shorts might be worn by younger boys, or seasonally during the summer. Most older boys preferrred jeans. In Germany during the 1980s, lederhosen, though still worn, tended to be reserved for folk festivals or for special nationalistic or local holidays. Japanese boys wore both short and long pants, but this was sharply divided by age. Short pants were commonly worn by primary-age children. Once passing to junior high school at 12-13 years of age boys began wearing long pants. For dressing up, Japanese boys continued to wear short-pants suits with knee socks. The division of Korea strongley affected fashion. South Korean boys commonly wore styles popular in Japan. Russian boys mostly wore long pants, but we see some younger boys wearing shorts in cool weather. As in Western Europe, casual shorts were often worn in the summer. Trends in Scotland were very similar to England.

America

Most American boys wore jeans or other long pants, especially when dressing up. Some younger boys might still wear shorts when dressing up, especiakky in the summer. Shorts were worn seasonally. American boys of all ages commonly wore casual shorts during the 1980s. There were some regional differences. often they were very short-cut shorts with white tube socks, sometimes with striped tops, along with tee shirts. Boys except Scouts did not wear kneesocks with shorts. Note that one American boy wears his shirt loose and not tucked into his belt. Greater and greater degrees of casualness were being cultivated among school children during this decade. In warmer climates such as California, boys wore both blue jeans and shorts with tube socks to school during the 1980s. A scene with a group of children near a school in California illustrates the prevalence of both shorts and blue jeans. Nearly all the boys seem to wear tee shirts or sweat shirts with their jeans or shorts. A photo of San Bernardino children playing in the street (1983) gives us another glimpse of boys’ styles during the decade. Again we see tee shirts, briefly cut shorts, and knee-length white tube socks with striped tops.

Canada

Canadian trends seem very similar to those in America. French Canada’s clothing in the 1980s had lost much of its traditional Catholic conservatism. School portraits such as this class group are a good way of following the trends. Boys wore jeans and long trousers with sweat shirts and sweaters (1986). Gone are the short trousers and the long stockings that used to be so common in Quebec. Canadian Cub Scouts wore short pants, knee socks, garter flashes, and blue shirts with red neckerchiefs in the 1980s. Note the penknife inserted sportily in the sock of one of the boys. The boys have little leather kits of some sort as part of their belt assembly—obviously part of their equipment for outings in the woods or countryside.

England

Most English boys wore long trousers, although shorts were popular seasonally during the summer. Although long trousers had become more common among English boys, we still see quite a number of schoolboys wearing the traditional short trousers. One boy wears a grey sweater over his white shirt and tie, the regulation short pants required by his school, and the conventional grey knee socks. Note that he wears garters to hold the socks up but that he has dressed hurriedly and allowed the white elastic band of his garter to show. Boys seem to have been quite unselfconscious about such slips. The photo seems to date from the 1980s. The Cub Scout uniform still featured the traditional short pants with knee socks. This illustration from a British catalog shows how cub scouts were supposed to look. Notice the prominence of the garter flashes on the boy’s legs. These garter flashes, we are told by several old boys who remember the uniform, were a little detail of the outfit that attracted many boys. Note the green sweater with white neckerchief.

France

Germany

Long pants were widely worn in Germany. Shorts might be worn by younger boys, or seasonally during the summer. Most older boys preferrred jeans. In Germany during the 1980s, lederhosen, though still worn, tended to be reserved for folk festivals or for special nationalistic or local holidays. A German boy (Figure 1 on linked page) appears to have dressed especially for a special event in Bavaria or southern Germany. Notice that instead of the traditional leather halter suspenders with a cross piece, this boy wears modern clip on suspenders. He also wears dark knee socks with a decorative top rather than the traditional white knee socks that were the usual accompaniment to the costume. Another German boy in the 1980s wears the full Bavarian folk costume—lederhosen, Tyrolian hat with a feather, grey knee socks with striped tops , white shirt, and a fairly elaborate grey jacket that he carries rather than wears. Notice the floral decoration on his black lederhosen. His entire costume is very carefully calculated. Everything matches or goes together in the black and grey color scheme of the outfit. One suspects that this costume may have been rented or provided by a particular civic organization and that the boy wears it, so to speak, on parade. A little boy of about 3 or 4 yers wears a bib short pants suit with white knee socks (which he has trouble keeping up). This is a costume with ethnic or folklore overtones that a German mother has dressed her young son in because it looks so cute. But such clothes do not seem to have been at all typical. Notice the orange accents on the suit.

Italy

Japan

Japanese boys wore both short and long pants, but this was sharply divided by age. Short pants were commonly worn by primary-age children. Once passing to junior high school at 12-13 years of age boys began wearing long pants. For dressing up, Japanese boys continued to wear short-pants suits with knee socks. This boy wears very conservative black knee socks. Notice how long the short pants are in this case—a notable departure from the very short shorts that were characteristic of Japanese dress during the period. The model for this kind of suit may have been British. At least we suspect British or perhaps other European influence such as Italy or France. Another photo shows the typical Japanese school uniforms-—blue jackets, short pants, knee high white socks, and brimmed hats. The briefness of the shorts was characteristic. Some Japanese schools dressed boys in high-neck military-style uniforms with short pants and white ankle socks. The girls’ uniform in the same illustration features white knee socks. In many Japanese schools hosiery rules were relaxed. Children were often allowed to choose between white ankle and white knee socks despite the fact that, in other respects, the uniform regulations were quite strict. One Japanese school of the 1980s had a very conservative blue uniform modeled on a style that had largely gone out of style in Britain—dark blue short pants suits, navy blue knee socks, black shoes, and peaked school caps. Notice the double breasted blue rain coats. These Japanese students must be required to wear white socks, but obviously have the choice of hosiery ankle or knee socks. The boys wear white short-sleeved shirts with ties.

Korea

The division of Korea strongley affected fashion. South Korean boys commonly wore styles popular in Japan. Younger boys often wore shorts and older boys long pants. Given the guarded nature of the society, we have very few examples of what boys in North Korea wore in the 1980s. We do have one example of a boy from the ruling family wearing short pants, a plain white tee shirt, and white ankle socks. Such dress is hardly likely to have been typical.

Russia

Russian boys mostly wore long pants, but we see some younger boys wearing shorts in cool weather. As in Western Europe, casual shorts were often worn in the summer. Younger Russian boys continued to wear short pants with tights, but less commonly than in the 70s. We see some bpys wearing short pants suits with tights. Jneesocks were also worn with short pants suits. We blieve that ankle socks were more common, but younger boys dressing up in a short pants suits seem to have usually tights or kneesocks. Boys more commonly wore tights with long pants during the 1980s. This is of course very difficult to assess from the available photographic record. One fashion photograph shows white tights with a very classy boys’ short-pants suit. The style suggests affluence and high social status, showing what some of the more socially prominent mothers in the Soviet Union wanted to buy for their sons. Another Russian magazine shows a boy wearing dressy white tights with short pants in 1981. This seems to be a kindergarten outfit. Tights seem to have been favored for boys by parents from the more professional and well-educated classes as dressy clothes, but they were also worn by other boys in less formal situations. Although knickers had largely fallen out of fashion, some Russian boys still wore them in the early 80s. We see a boy, perhaps visiting Moscow from the provinces, wearing the somewhat old-fashioned style of knickers with a strap and buckle just below the knee. Notice that one of the knee socks has fallen down. This was always a problem with knickers unless the boy wore long stockings underneath. These knickers appear to be corduroy. Notice the matching jacket. Young Pioneers in 1989 wore both short and long pants. The shorts were mostly worn at summer camps. Some wore tee shirts but by no means all. Notice the distinctive red neckerchiefs.

Scotland

Trends in Scotland were very similar to England. Blazers with colorful piping were a feature of quite a number of British school uniformsn. This boy from the 1980s wears his blazer with red piping. At one Scottish school we notice matching red knee socks and the briefly cut short pants. Most schools had grey trousers. A few Scottish schools had blue trousers, but not blue long trousers. Long trousers were almost always grey or black. We see another Scottish school with a uniform that involves a boy wearing a black jacket and shorts with black knee socks plus a white shirt with no tie.