Figure 1.-- These French children were photographed in the 1950s. I'm not sure where in France. Boys still commonly wore short pants in the 50s, especially during the summer. Kneesocks were less common. More boys were wearing long pants which became increasingly common during the winter.

Boys around the world mostly wore short and long trousers. Short pants were not as common as they were in the 1940s, although the pattern varied from country to country. More boys were wearing long pants, especiallt older boys. Knickers virtually disappeared in the 1950s. They were no longer seen in America, but we notice them still be worn by a few boys in some European countries during the early 50s. Some German boys were weaking knicker-length ski pants. We also see German boys wearing Lederhosen. Rompers were very popular for younger boys in France. There were wide variations among countries in the types of pants worn by boys. The major trend occuring during the 1950s was that long pants becme increasingly popular, especially for older boys. The strength and nature of this trend varied from country to country, but the same basic trend occurred in both Europe and America. Still many European boys wore short pants, but relatively few American boys. There were still destinctive national clothing styles in the 1950s. It is often to identify a boy's nationality on the basis of the clothes worn. A range of different materiasls were worn for boys trousers. Cotton drill was popular for slacks in America. Boys commonly wore denim jeans. Flannel and corduroy were popular in England and some other European countries. Boys around the world commonly wore ankle socks. Most American boys wore ankle socks. Some tounger boys wore knee socks when dressing up, but even here ankle socks were most common. Many English boys wore kneesocks. Boys on the cointinent mostly wore ankle socks, but kneesocks were also worn, especially during cold weather. In some countries, especially Germany, Poland, and Russia, long stockings were still worn during the winter.

Pants Types

Boys around the world mostly wore short and long trousers, although other types of pants were also worn to a lesser degree. Short pants were not as common as they were in the 1940s, although the pattern varied from country to country. They continued to be widely worn in most European countries, but much less so in America. More boys were wearing long pants, especially older boys. Long pants were becoming especially common in cold weater. This was particularly true in America, but was becoming increasingly common in Europe as well. Knickers virtually disappeared in the 1950s. They were no longer seen in America, but we notice them still be worn by a few boys in some European countries during the early 50s. We also see a variety of other types of pants. Some German boys were wearing knicker-length ski pants. We also see German boys wearing Lederhosen. Rompers were very popular for younger boys in France and Italy, but were worn in other countries as well.

Decade Trends

The major trend occuring during the 1950s was that long pants becme increasingly popular, especially for older boys. Shorts increasingly began to be seen s casual summerwear rather than a type of juvenile pants all year round. The strength and nature of this trend varied from country to country, but the same basic trend occurred in both Europe and America. Still many European boys wore short pants, but relatively few American boys.

Country Trends

There were still destinctive national clothing styles in the 1950s. It is often to identify a boy's nationality on the basis of the clothes worn. Boys around the world mostly wore either short or long trousers. There were wide variations among countries in the types of pants worn by boys. The popularity of different types of pants was quite different between America and Europe and even between different European countries. Knickers disappeared in the 1950s. They were no longer seen in America, but we notice them still be worn by a few boys in some European countries. Here the country varied widely from country to country. American boys during the 1950s mostly wore long trousers in a variety of styles, although we also see short pants in some cases. Knickers had disappeared. Canadian boys wore clothing similar in most respects to what was being worn in the United States. Knickers persisted a little longer than in the United States. We see some boys wearing breeches. Despite the climate we note some Canadian boys wearing short pants. English boys wore both short and long trousers in the 1950s. We do not notice boys wearing knickers. English boys in the 1950s still commonly wore short trousers. Boys on the early 50s commonly wore short pants suits, but this was much less common by the end of the decade. At the same time many state schools were introducing uniforms which in many cases required boys to wear short trousers. French boys still commonly wore short pants in the 50s, especially during the summer. Kneesocks were less common. More boys were wearing long pants which became increasingly common during the winter. We see German boys wearing both short and long pants during the 1950s. A few boys still wore knickers, but they were not very common. Throughout the 1950s, German boys, often as old as 13 or 14, continued to dress in short trousers, especially in the early 1950s. The age of boys wearing short trousers declined during the decade. One destinctive fashion in German duing the 1950s were Lederhosen. They were worn by boys af all ages. We have very little information about Japanese boys’ clothing during the 1950s. Most of our illustrations come from later decades. We know that Japanese school uniforms imitated continental Europe and usually involved short pants with knee socks. Dutch boys wore both short and long pants. Short pants in various styles were still popular. Most Scottish schoolboys dressed like their English counterparts—in short pants and knee socks, sometimes in short-pants suits or in school blazers. Scotish boys clothes while similar to English clothes were somewhat more traditional. One of the few real differences is that Scottish boys sometimes wore kilts when dressing up or for Scouting and school. Soviet boys in the post-war decade, were still wearing short trousers up to their teen yers, often with long stockings. This style was partly a matter of the climate, but it also reflected the notion, quite usual in the northern and eastern countries of Europe, that boys should not wear long trousers until they were at least 12 or 13.

Age

Material

A range of different materiasls were worn for boys trousers. Cotton drill was popular for slacks in America. Boys commonly wore denim jeans. They were permiited in primary (elementary) schools, but not in most secondary schools. We note English boys wearing corduroy shorts, mostly for casual wrear, although they were also worn at some schools. Scouts on the continent also wore cord shorts. I'm not sure how common they were outside if Scouting. English boys also wore khaki shorts during the summer and flannel shorts for school. Teenagers in Europe by the late 50s were beginning to wear jeans like American boys but they were not yet very common among younger boys.

Suspension

Length

Boys were increasingly wearing long trousers in the 1950s, even younger boys. Short pants were still widely worn, especially in Europe. British boys still tended to wear longish shorts as did boys in America, Boys on the Continent, however, commonly wore short cut shorts. A good example is Paulo in Italy.

Conventions

There were several general trends concering trousers in the 1950s. These trends varied in strength among countries, but the same basic conventions pertained around the world. Younger and younger boys were wearing long pants, especially for dressy wear. Short pants suits were seen as little boysd outfits. We still see boys wearing short pants suits, but fewer and younger boys. Short pants were increasingly being worn as casual summer wear. Here the age conventions were not entirely operative.

Gender Trends

Girls in the early 20th century always wore dresses. This did not change until mid-century. We are not entirely sure why this change took place. We do see advertisesments for women's trousers of various kinds in clothing catalogs during the 1930s. This may have even occurred in the 1920s. We also notice fashionable women wearing pants in Hollywood movies. We rarely see girls wearing pants during this early period. One major factor may have been World war II. Women entered the work force more than ever before, espoecially in America and Britain. Women soon discovered the practicality of trousers. Thus Rosey the Rivetor and her colleagues often wore pants to work, both overalls, coveralls, and other pants. After the Warr one sees many more women weasring slacks, mostly for casualwear. Gradually girls also began wearing pants, although they were not at first seen a suitable for school. The fashion soon spread to European countries othr thasn Britain. Dresses were much more common for girls in the 1950s, but we do note some girls wearing pants.

Hosiery

Boys around the world commonly wore ankle socks. Most American boys wore ankle socks. Some tounger boys wore knee socks when dressing up, but even here ankle socks were most common. Many English boys wore kneesocks. Boys on the cointinent mostly wore ankle socks, but kneesocks were also worn, especially during cold weather. In some countries, especially Germany, Poland, and Russia, long stockings were still worn during the winter. Younger boys might wear long stockings with short pants. Long stockings begn to disappear in the late 1950s when tights for children first appeared. Tights rapidly replaced long stockings in Germany. A good example is a German boy in the late 50s. Long stockings persisted in East Bloc countries like Poland and the Soviet Union.