Belgian Boys Clothes: Chronology--Early 20 Century (1900-19)


Figure 1.--This fashion catalog was published by a tailor in Belgium for the Winter 1900-1901 season. The tailor was Dôme des Hailes, Charleroi. The catalog included clothes for women, men and children's clothes. There were 20 pages. The page on boys' clothes emphasized sailor suits.

HBC still has very little information on Belgian boys' clothing during this period. I'd be interested in any details visitors to this page may have. Available information suggests that smocks were commonly worn by boys. As in France, sailor suits were very popular which is interesting because the country had virtually no navy. Boys at the turn of the century mostly wore knee pants. The bloomer or blouced knicker style seemed to have been popular. And were often wirn without stickings. Gradully short pants became increasingly popular, especially after the 1900s. As in England, the Boy Scout movement had an important influence. Smocks were still commonly worn to school, but were less common whe the boys came home from school. Older boys might wear knickers. One particularly valuable source of information on early-20th century boys' fashions are postcards as children were popular subjects of cards during this period. World War I eruoted (1914). Almost all of Belgium was occupied in the first month of the War and huge damage was done. Fashion basically was on hold for the rest of the decade. Most children were lucky to recieve any new clothes--and styling was of little concern. Only after the War and the beginning of the decade did the fashion industry regain its footing.

The 1900s

HBC still has very little information on Belgian boys' clothing during this period. We would be interested in any details visitors to this page may have. Available information suggests that smocks were commonly worn by boys, especially for schoolwear. As in France, sailor suits were very popular which is interesting because the country had virtually no navy. Both boys and girls wore them. We see various suit styles. Norfolk-styling was poplar. Boys at the turn-of-the century mostly bloomer knickers or knee pants. The blouced knicker style seemed to have been popular. And were often worn without stockings. This was something you almost never see in America unless the boy was going barefoot. As in England, the Boy Scout movement had an important influence. Smocks were still commonly worn to school, but were less common whe the boys came home from school. Older boys might wear knickers. One particularly valuable source of information on early-20th century boys' fashions are postcards as children were popular subjects of cards during this period.

The 1910s

Gradully knee pants began to replace the knicker-style panrts. we still see knicker pants, but knee pants and long-cut short pants became increasingly popular, especially by the end of the decade. Ironically as Belgian boys began wearing knickers less, they became the srandard for american bous. In Americ, however, knickers were alway worn with stockings. World War I eruoted in the middle of the 1910s and Belgium lovated between Germany and Franve was at the heart if it. (1914). Almost all of Belgium was occupied in the first month of the Warand huge damage was done. Fashion basically was on hold for the rest of the decade. Most children were lucky to recieve nasic food, let alone any new clothes. Styling was of little concern. Only after the War and the beginning of the decade did the fashion industry regain its footing.







HBC







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Created: February 17, 2003
Last updated: 11:53 AM 11/4/2015