Figure 1.--Knickers became very common in America during the 1910s, but we still see some boys wearing knee pnts during the early 20s. This photograph appeared in a Kodak ad during 1921. It was in "The Ladies Home Journal" (September 1921, p. 39). By the 1920s it was mostly younger boys still wearing kneed pants. The boy looks about 8 years old. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

Knee pants were commonly worn in the early 20th century, but the pattern varied substantially from country to country. They were very common at the turn of the 20th century, but gradually declined in popularity, especially after World War I (1914-18). They were very common in America during the 1900s, but knickerrs and bloomer knickers were also worn in Europe. Knee pants declined in popularity during the 1910s. American boys in the 1910s more commonly wore knickers, but youngr boys still wore knee pants. Knee pants were still worn in the early 1920s, but mostly by younger boys. More common were knickers and short pants. Some younger boys wore long pants in America, but most American boys wore knickers and European boys shorts by the 1920s. see knee pants and knicker suits in America during the early 20s, but knicker suits were more common by the mid-20s. We still see knee pants being worn in Europe during the 1930s, but they were no longer common. We see boys wearing knee pants suits for formal occasions during the 30s.

The 1900s

Knee pants were very common at the turn-of-the 20th century, standard boys wear in America and in much of Europe. They had appeared at the middle of the 19th century and commonly worn by boys for half a century. They continued to be commonly worn in the 1900s in both america and Europe. It was in the 1900s that knee pants began to decline in popularity. Knee pants gradually declined in popularity. They were less popular by the end of the decade. The pattern varied from country to country. They were very common in America during tmost of the 1900s. This was mostly the case in America, For some reason, all of a sudden American boys began wearing knickers about 1908. In only 1-2 years, the standard boys' wear had made the transition to knickers. This samne change did not occur in Europe. Knee pabts did not immediately disappear. We see some younger boys continue to wear knee pants. We even see some kneepants suits. But most American boys shifted to knickers. Knickerrs and bloomer knickers were also worn in Europe, but knee pants became increasingly common ans began the transition to short pants. . Most adeverisements and portraits available from America in the 1900s mostly show boys wearing kneepants. A good example is Harry Lodge about 1908. We see a more varied picture in Europe with boys wearing knee pants, knickers, and short pants.

The 1910s

Knee pants came much less common after World War I (1914-18). Knee pants declined in popularity during the 1910s. American boys in the 1910s more commonly wore knickers, but youngr boys still wore knee pants. Most advertisements and portraits taken in the 1910s show American boys wearing knicker suits. The situation in Europe was very different. Knicker suits were not very common at all in Europe. Most boys wore either knee pants or short pants suits. Older boys might wear long pants suits.

The 1920s

Knee pants were still worn in the early 1920s, but mostly by younger boys. More common were knickers and short pants. Some younger boys wore long pants in America, but most American boys wore knickers and European boys shorts by the 1920s. We see knee pants and knicker suits in America during the early 20s, but knicker suits were more common by the mid-20s. The photographic record and advertisements show clearly that knickers were what most American boys wore. We still see knee pants being worn in Europe during the 1930s, but they were no longer common.

The 1930s

We see boys wearing knee pants suits for formal occasions during the 30s.