Belgian Boys Clothes: Garments--Sweaters


Figure 1.--This pullover for 14 year old boy was advertised in the Dutch-language "Vrouw en Huis" ("Woman and Home") magazine during 1953. There was a zipper in the shoulder. The headingreads. "Jongenspullover, in 6 leeftijden" means that it's a boys' pullover that can be knitted in 6 different age-categories: 6-8-10-12-14. The boy pictured here in the sweater wears knit shorts with his sweater.

Belgian boys during the 1920s began wearing sweaters, which tended to to be made longer than now, over their pants--usuallly short pants. We have observed this same convention in other countries--including France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We do not know why this convention developed. Later the sweaters became more shorter and were cut at the waist and often tucked inside the pants. Many sweaters weere knitted by mothers and grandmothers and not boughtin the stores. Magazines commonly carroed knotting patterns. Mamy different styles and types of sweaters were worn. Sweaters were worn by both French and Dutch speaking Belgian boys. We are not sure if there were notable stylistic differences between the two groups.

Climate

Belgian is located along the North Sea and the eastern approacjes of the English Channel. The winters can be quite cold. There are also a lot of chilly spring and autumn days. Thus sweaters have proven to be very popular garments in Belgium. Layered with other garments and perhaps a scarf, a sweater can be quite a warm garment.

Chronology

I'm not sure when Belgian boys began wearing sweaters, but they are clearly being comnonly worn by the 1920s (surely appearing much earlier). HBC believes that they probably appeared in the late 19th century. They are still very popular today.

Terminology

Both French and Dutch are commonly used in Belgium. I'm not sure what the French word for sweaters is. The Dutch word for sweaters is "trui". I'm not sure what terms were used for the different styles of sweaters.

Styles

HBC has little information on Belgian sweater styles. Most of the sweaters worn by Belgian boys appear to have been pullovers. Many of the images HBC has seen have had crew necks. Belgian boys have also worn turtle-neck sweaters. The "V"-neck sweatrers so common in England were also worn by Belgian boys, but not as commonly. Boys wore both sleeveless and sleeved "V" necks. We have not noted sweaters with British school styling, that is colored trim around the neck and cuffs, as was the case in the Netherlands. Cardigans were also commonly worn after World War II, but were not as popular a style as pullovers. We also notice some rather unusual styles such as a high-necked zip sweater looking rather like a jacket. Sweaters seem more popular with the Flemish than Waloon boys, but this is just an initual reaction.

Colors

HBC does not yet have any information on the colors of the sweaters worn by Dutch boys.

Patterns

Belgian boys wore a wide variety of patterned sweaters. The solid-colored sweater so common in England were not as popular in Belgium. HBC has, however, only limited information on patterns at this time.

Belts

Many European boys during the 1920s began wearing sweaters, which tended to to be made longer than now, over their pants--usuallly short pants. We have observed this convention in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands as well as other countries. We do not know why this convention developed. Later the swearters became more shorter and were cut at the waist and often tucked inside the pants.

Conventions

Belgian boys wear sweaters on virtually all occasions. They wore them around the home for play during cool weather. They also commonly wore them inside the home. Until the late 20th century, few Belgian homes had central heating so boys commonly wore their sweaters inside the home. Sweaters were also commonly worn to school, during the winter with a jacket and sacrf. Schools like homes were not well heated until the late 20th century.

Identical Outfits

Some available images shows brothers being dressed in idetical or coordinate sweaters. This appears to have been popular in the post-World War II era--at least in fashion magazines and clothing catalogs. HBC is not sure how common it was among Belgian boys.

Material

Sweaters were originally wool garments. Well into the post-World War II era, most Dutch boys wore wool sweaters. Wool is, however, and expensive material and many boys now wear sweaters made out of synthetic fibers.

Language Groups

Sweaters were worn by both French and Dutch speaking Belgian boys. We are not sure if there were notable stylistic differences between the two groups. Sweaters appear to have been more popular among the Dutch speaking boys than the French speaking boys, but HBC can not yet confirm this.







Christopher Wagner






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Created: January 2, 2002
Last updated: January 30, 2002