*** Belgian boys clothes chronolgy: post-World War II 20th century








Belgian Boys Clothes: Chronology--Post-War Period (1945-70)

Belgian short pants and knee socks
Figure 1.--Here we see a Belgian stree scene in 1965. It may be Brussels, perhaps our Belgian readers will know. The boy wears a striped polo shirt, blue short pants, blue knee socks, and black leather shoes.

While the physical damage resulting from World War II in Belgium was less than in many other countries, the economy was badly damaged by the War. This of course affected both the availability of consumer goods and the ability of consumbers to purchase goods. The Marshall Plan, the German Economic Miracle, and the move toward Ruropean unification led to an economic boom throughout Western Europe. By the 1950s, Belgians were better off than before the War. And this was reflected in clothing and fashion. Children had much larger wardrobes than they had ever had and this was not just the affluent, but working-class families as well. Belgian boys continued to wear short pants after the war. The style was common well into the 1960s. Traditional styles tended to persist longer in many rural areas. Smocks and shorts were less common in the 1960s, but still worn by many boys. Smocks were still commonly worn in many elementary schools. Many boys still commonly wore shorts, both for play and dress in the early 1960s. Probably about half of Belgian boys still wore shorts until they were 12 or 13 years old. Many of these boys, however, might have long pants for cold weather wear during the winter. Most of the boys wearing shorts wore ankel socks during the summer, some with sandals. Boys usually did not wear shorts much past the age of 14. Some traditional parents, however, had boys wear shorts up to 16 years, especially if their school required a short pants uniform.

The Post-War 1940s

While the physical damage resulting from World War II in Belgium was less than in many other countries, the economy was badly damaged by the War. This of course affected both the availability of consumer goods and the ability of consumbers to purchase goods.

The 1950s

The Marshall Plan, the German Economic Miracle, and the move toward European unification led to an economic boom throughout Western Europe. This vbegab in the late-1940s, but took hild in the 1950s. Belgians by the 1950s were better off than before the War. The rate of change was similar to Germany and surprised many. And this was reflected in clothing and fashion. Children had much larger wardrobes than they had ever had and this was not just the affluent, but working-class families as well. Belgian boys continued to commonly wear short pants after the war.

The 1960s

Significan change in boys clothing began to develop in the 1960s. We see more American styled casual clothing like T-shirts and polo shirts. The boy here is a good example (figure 1). We begin to see jeans especially among teenagers. We still see Belgian boys commonly wearing short pants into the 1960s. Traditional styles tended to persist longer in Belgium than much of the rest of Europe. We are not entirely sure why. This was especiall notable in rural areas. Smocks and shorts were less common in the 1960s especially by the end of the decade , but still worn by many boys. Smocks were still commonly worn in many elementary schools. Many boys still commonly wore shorts, both for play and dress in the early 1960s. They were also commonly part of schoolwear. Probably about half of Belgian boys still wore shorts until they were 12 or 13 years old. Many of these boys by the 1960s, however, might have long pants for cold weather wear during the winter. Most of the boys wearing shorts wore ankel socks during the summer, some with sandals. Boys usually did not wear shorts much past the age of 14. Some traditional parents, however, had boys wear shorts up to 16 years, especially if their school required a short pants uniform.







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Created: 12:49 AM 11/30/2011
Last updated: 6:52 PM 4/27/2017