Underwear: Chronology--The 20th Century


Figure 1.-

Waists were essentially garments to which hose supporters either could be or were already attached. Up until the 1920s, the waists worn to support stockings and button-on knee pants were usually additional garments worn over the standard adult men’s underwear in smaller children’s sizes. In the early 1920s the “waist union suit” for children was invented, which combined the functions of the adult-style underwear with those of the “waist” so that only one undergarment was necessary. Waist union suits became popular for children (both boys and girls) from about age 2 to age 13 or 14. They went out of style in the mid-1940s when boys ceased to wear long stockings with either shorts or knickers into their teen-age years and began to wear long trousers at earlier ages. Boys who didn’t wear waist union suits but continued to wear long stockings in the period from about 1920 to 1945 wore regular men’s style underwear with separate garter waists to hold up their stockings. In the mid-1930s cotton briefs with elastic waist bands were manufactured and gradually became the dominant style of underwear for boys—the so-called “Jockey” style briefs. The jockey briefs didn’t really catch on, however, until the late 1940s after World War II. These were usually worn with sleeveless undershirts and later with tee-shirts. Some boys by the late 1930s began to wear looser-fitting non-knitted shorts (often made of broadcloth) that had button fronts similar to those worn by American soldiers in the warmer seasons and climates, and it was not too long before “boxer” shorts began to replace the button-front shorts. These were loose-fitting shorts with an elastic waistband and no buttons, based on the shorts that professional boxers wore in the ring. Modern boys wear either knitted undershorts (briefs or boxer briefs in white or various colors) or boxer shorts (usually in various colors and patterns). Preferences between these options have varied since the late 1980s and lively debate still occurs as to whether boxers or briefs are the “cool” way to go in boys’ underwear.

The 1900s

By 1900 the one piece union suit (usually long-sleeved and ankle length) became the preferred underwear for men and boys. The comparable garment for children was often called a combination suit or waist union suit. The two-piece undershirts and drawers continued to be worn also. Waists were essentially garments to which hose supporters either could be or were already attached. Up until the 1920s, the waists worn to support stockings and button-on knee pants were usually additional garments worn over the standard adult men’s underwear in smaller children’s sizes.

The 1910s

We note little change in underwear during the 1910s. We note both union/combination suits and waist suits. As long stockings were still commonly worn, children continued to wear stocking supporters. The tendency toward short pants had some impact on underwear, but it was limited as the short pants worn were no much shorter than kneepants. In addition, short pants in America were not as common in Amnerica as in Europe. American boys more commonly wore knickers and as far as underwear was concerned, there was no difference between kbneepants and knickers.

The 1920s

In the early 1920s the “waist union suit” for children was invented, which combined the functions of the adult-style underwear with those of the “waist” so that only one undergarment was necessary. Waist union suits became popular for children (both boys and girls) from about age 2 to age 13 or 14. They went out of style in the mid-1940s when boys ceased to wear long stockings with either shorts or knickers into their teen-age years and began to wear long trousers at earlier ages. Boys who didn’t wear waist union suits but continued to wear long stockings in the period from about 1920 to 1945 wore regular men’s style underwear with separate garter waists to hold up their stockings.

The 1930s

In the mid-1930s cotton briefs with elastic waist bands were manufactured and gradually became the dominant style of underwear for boys—the so-called “Jockey” style briefs. These are more commonly referred to as "Y"-fronts in Britain. Some boys by the late 1930s began to wear looser-fitting non-knitted shorts (often made of broadcloth) that had button fronts similar to those worn by American soldiers in the warmer seasons and climates, and it was not too long before “boxer” shorts began to replace the button-front shorts. These were loose-fitting shorts with an elastic waistband and no buttons, based on the shorts that professional boxers wore in the ring.

The 1940s

The jockey briefs didn’t really catch on, however, until the late 1940s after World War II. These were usually worn with sleeveless undershirts and later with "T"-shirts ( tee-shirts ). One reader born in 1943 recalls only wearing white "T"-shirts and briefs. He remembers his father wearing sleeveless underwear (singlets) and boxers which he came to see as old fashioned.

The 1950s

American boys mostly wore "T"-shirts and briefs in the 1950s. Some boys in far north and Canada wore long underwear during the winter, but the dominany underwear was "TY"-shirts asnd briefs.

The 1960s


The 1970s


The 1980s


The 1990s

Modern boys wear either knitted undershorts (briefs or boxer briefs in white or various colors) or boxer shorts (usually in various colors and patterns). Preferences between these options have varied since the late 1980s and lively debate still occurs as to whether boxers or briefs are the “cool” way to go in boys’ underwear.






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Created: 7:39 AM 10/15/2004
Last updated: 7:39 AM 10/15/2004