Figure 1.--"La mode illustré" in 1892 described this a blouse for a 3 to 5 year old boy. French publications often used the term "blouse" to describe a smock, although it had other meanings as well. Notice the stylish low waist of the smock. The boy seems to be weating his smock over bloomer knickers, long dark stockings, and low-cut shoes with bows. Notice the bows on the girl's shoulders. Those stmbolized the leading strings once worn on girl's dresses.

HBC does not yet have detailed information on the chronology of French smocks. We know that they were mandated by the Third Republic for schoolwear in the early 1870s. We do not know, however, if smocks were being worn by boys for school before the 1870s and the Third Republic was adopting an already popular style or if smocks were rarely worn by boys and the Third Republic was introducing a largely new garment. The adoption of smocks, however, suggests that it is a garment that was being worn. HBC at this time does not have information on smocks being worn in the mid-19th century. We do have some images from the 1890s, but almost certainly French boys were wearing smocks at home well before the 1890s. Smocks from the 1870s through the 1950s were weidely worn by French boys at school, we have less information on homewear, but a few images from the 1900s suggest that some French mothers had their boys wear smocks as play garment. We do not know, however, how long this was a common fashion. Available omages from the 1940s and 50s suggest that most boys would take their smocks off as soon as they came home from school.

The 19th Century

HBC does not yet have detailed information on the French smocks in the 19th century. Smocks from the 1870s through the 1950s were weidely worn by French boys at school, we have less information on homewear, especially in the 19th century.

Early 19th century (1800-40)

We have little information currently available. We do note the Hugo children wearing what look to be smocks at home in an intimate family setting.

Mid-19th century (1840-70)

HBC has no information on French smocks in the mid-19th century, but we believe that boys did wear them. How common they were, the styles, the ages of the boys, and other details are not yet available.

Late 19th century (1870-1900)

France was disastrously defeated by the Germans in the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War. The Germans annexed Alsace-Lorraine and levied a massive indeminity. A new Gobernment, the Third Republic repaced the Emperor Napoleon III. The Third Republic adopted many far reaching reforms, including educagional reforms. One of these was introducing smocks for school children in the early 1870s. This was a democratic reform designed to make all children in French schools more equal, regardless of their family back ground. We do not know, however, if smocks were being worn by boys for school before the 1870s and the Third Republic was adopting an already popular style or if smocks were rarely worn by boys and the Third Republic was introducing a largely new garment. The adoption of smocks, however, suggests that it is a garment that was being worn. HBC at this time does not have information on smocks being worn in the mid-19th century. We do have some images from the 1890s, but almost certainly French boys were wearing smocks at home well before the 1890s. We suspect that this was very common, but just do not have details to conform this.

The 20th Century

HBC still has relatively limited information on smocks for homewear in the 20th century. We suspect that this was very common in the early 20th century, but declined after World War I (1914-18) and even more so in the 1930s. We can not yet, however, confirm this.

Early 20th century (1900-18)

HBC has noted a few images from the 1900s suggest that some French mothers had their boys wear smocks as play garment. we know that boys commonly wore smocks to school. We are unsure why we have found so few homeimages of boys wearing smocks at home. We have much less information on homewear. We do not know, however, how long this was a common fashion. We note Emil Zola's son, for example, playing in gingham smocks. Perhaps smocks as homewear was an upper-class fashion. Our limited information at this time, however, makes it impossible to accurately report on trends.

Inter-war and World War II era (1918-45)

HBC believes that French boy s began to wear smocks less commonly at home during the inter-war era. During this period smocks became to be seen primarily a school garment. One factor invplved here is that rompers became such a popular garment for pre-school boys. Such boys who eralier might have been dressed in smocks, were in the inter-war dressed in rompers. Smocks did not disappear, but just became less common. Somr boys wore smocks over their rompers. A French reader reports that after 1925, it became increasingly popular to create what can be called happy clothe for both boys and girls. By the mis-193-s that was even more common. This tred certinly affect French smocks, but we have few details at this time.

Post-war era (1945-68)

As far as HBC know, the only smocks commonly worn by French boys were school smocks. Available images from the 1940s and 50s suggest that smocks were still very common in French primary schools. There were quite a range of different styles that were worn. Some boys' styles were very destinctive. Other styles could we worn by either boys or girls, although only very young boys wore smocks that tied in a bow at the back. HBC has collected images of schools smocks that were commonly worn by French children in the 1950s, showing the great variety. By the 1960s, smocks declined in popularity. Most boys would take their smocks off as soon as they came home from school. We have not noted many images of French boys playing in smocks after the 1950s.

Late 20th century (1968-2000)

Schools smocks virtually disappeared in France during the late 20th century. The only exception appears to be very young children at nursery schools. Perhaps some primary children may have worn them, but HBC has no indication that they did. Hopefully French readers will provide us some information here. One reader reports, "I am not sure that smocks were limited to nursery schools, there might well have been few private schools (catholics) requiring smocks during whole of primary level." A HBC reader reports, "The wearing of dad's old shirt is nowadays quite common in France and Switzerland during "dirty" lessons of manual work such as painting in nursery and first primary levels. I believe in is also the case in other European countries that have never had school smocks."

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Created: October 22, 2001
Last updated: June 13, 2004