Figure 1.-- This unidentified American boy wears a tweed double-breasted jacket suit. The portrait is undaed but looks like the 1930s to us.

Double-breasted suits were popular in the ealy 20th century. We see quite a number of boys wearing double-breasted suits in the early-20th century. The photographic record shows that the style was very widespread. We see many American boys wearing them. Many boys had double-breasted suits for formal occassions. A good example is is John Czechatowski, a Polish-American boy in 1928 doing his First Communion. Even though double breasted suits have never been the most popular style for boys, they were widely worn in the 1920s and 30s. I know of no academicstudy, but based on the study of available images, I'd say that about 1out if every three or four boys' suits in America were double breasted. I think the ratio was much lower in Britain and Europe, but the style was worn in France. Suits for French boys sometimes came with both short pants and knickers for boys through 16 years of age. We see double-breasted suits commonly in First Communion portraits like this. Double-breasted jackets were popular through the 1940s. After World War II, boys tended to wear mostly single breasted suits, although suits became less common for boyswear. Double breasted blazers declined in popularity in America and France during the 1940s and 50s. They never were very popular in England or Germany. Designers occasionally since the 1960s bring out a line of double-breasted suits for boys. Generally, however, they do not sell as well as single breasted blazers. Begining about the 1970s there was some revival of double breated suits. Some fashion houses pushed them as stylish. American boys have generally preferred the single breasted style, but there continue to be a minority of fashion conscious boys or more likely their mothers who chose the double breasted style. Styles and preceptions of styles change over time. I always thought of double breasted suits as giving an old fashioned, stolid look. Since the 1980s I think the double breasted suit has been perceived as a cutting edge stylistic look. Stylists now say that doubke breated suits, at least for boys gives a slimming look. The British conservative leader William Hague has been ordered by his spin doctors to change from doublebreasted to single breasted suits. As you may know he is still in his thirties and the idea is to make him look fatter and more substantial and therefore more able to command respect. Apparently double-breasted jackets have a slimming effect, according to the style gurus.

The 1900s

Double-breasted suits were popular in the early-20th century. This may have been the peak of their popularity. We see quite a number of boys wearing double-breasted suits in the early-20th century. They were commonly worn by school-age boys. The photographic record shows that the style was very widespread. We see many American boys wearing them, usually with knee pants including youngef teenagers. Many boys had double-breasted suits for formal occassions. Many boys wore them with Fauntleroy blouses. A good example is Raymond J.D. Webb about 1900.

The 1910s

Many American boys had double-breasted knickers suits in the 1910s.

The 1920s

We continue to see double=-breasted suits in the 1920s. A good example is is John Czechatowski, a Polish-American boy in 1928 doing his First Communion. Even though double breasted suits have never been the most popular style for boys, they were widely worn in the 1920s and 30s. I know of no academicstudy, but based on the study of available images, I'd say that about 1out if every three or four boys' suits in America were double breasted. I think the ratio was much lower in Britain and Europe, but the style was worn in France. Suits for French boys sometimes came with both short pants and knickers for boys through about 16 years of age. A good example is 16-year old Dutch boy Fans Leferink in 1927. We see double-breasted suits commonly in First Communion portraits like this.

the 1930s

Double-breasted jackets were popular through the 1940s.

The 1950s

After World War II, boys tended to wear mostly single breasted suits, although suits became less common for boyswear. Double breasted blazers declined in popularity in America and France during the 1940s and 50s. They never were very popular in England or Germany.

The 1960s

Designers occasionally since the 1960s bring out a line of double breasted suits for boys. Generally, however, they do not sell as well as single breasted blazers.

The 1970s

Begining about the 1970s there was some revival of double breated suits. Some fashion houses pushed them as stylish. American boys have generally preferred the single breasted style, but there continue to be a minority of fashion conscious boys or more likely their mothers who chose the double-breasted style. Styles and preceptions of styles change over time. I always thought of double breasted suits as giving an old fashioned look.

The 1980s

Since the 1980s I think the double breasted suit has been perceived as a cutting edge stylistic look. Stylists now say that doubke breated suits, at least for boys gives a slimming look. The British conservative leader William Hague has been ordered by his spin doctors to change from doublebreasted to single breasted suits. As you may know he is still in his thirties and the idea is to make him look fatter and more substantial and therefore more able to command respect. Apparently double-breasted jackets have a slimming effect,according to the style gurus.