Figure 1.--This portrait of an unidentified Canadian teenager show him wearing a two-piece suit knickers suit. The portrait was taken by J.B. Robson, Petrolia, Otario. The portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1910s. Notice the very full cut of the knickers.

Suits came with various types of pants. Suit pants were often referred to as trousers. The different types include long pants, knee pants, kbickers, and short pants. The popularity and age conventions for the different types have varied over time. One might think that given the climate that long pants suits have been more common in Canada than other countries, but this does not seem to have been the case. Some boys in the 1950s wore knicker and short pants suits, but long pants suits were becoming increasingly common. Even younger boys might have long pants suits. Long pants suits became increasingly common in the 1940s and were largely worn by the 1960s. I'm not sure how common kneepants suits were in the late 19th century. They were common in America, but somewhat less so in England. It is likely that kneepants suits were common, but at this time we have little actual information because of our limited Canadian archive. Knee pans were virtually universal for American boys at the turn-of-the 20th century. We think that this was probably the same in Canada. Canadian boys at the turn of the century seem to be commonly wearing knicker suits A very large porortion of the photographs we have archived during the early-20th century of boys in suits show boys wearing kneepants and knickers with long stockings. We note boys wearing both above and below the knees knickers. Even older teenagers wore knickers. Before World War I (1914-18) boys commonly wore knicker suits to hifg school. This became less common after the War. After the War boys began wearing kneesocks although long stockings continued to be worn with knicker suits for years. Knickers were quite common through the 1930s. The style persisted into the mid-1950s a little longer than in America. The cut of knickers varied substantially over time. Short pants suits became increasingly popular after World War I, showing the influence of English fashions. This occurred despite the climate. The British influence was probably a factor here, especially among boys attending private schools. Short pants suits appear to have been more common than in America.

Long Pants

The popularity of long pants suits in Canada varied over time. We have only limited information at this time on the 19th century. As best we can tell at this point, Canadian boys wore mostly long pants suits until the late 19th century. We think styles were very similar to Britain. This began to change in the late-19th century, in large measure due to the popularity of the American mail order catalogs in rural areas. We are entirely sure at this time how this functioned as Canada wa a foreign country. I think Sears and Wards opened up operations in Canada. British styles presumably continued to be more important in the larger cities where people were more likely to shop in stores. We have more information on the 20h century. One might think that given the climate that long pants suits have been more common in Canada than other countries, but this does not seem to have been the case. Some boys in the 1950s wore knicker and short pants suits, but long pants suits were becoming increasingly common. Even younger boys might have long pants suits. Long pants suits became increasingly common in the 1940s and were largely worn by the 1960s.

Knee Pants

I'm not sure how common kneepants suits were in the late 19th century. They were common in America, but somewhat less so in England. It is likely that kneepants suits were common, but at this time we have little actual information because of our limited Canadian archive. We see some Canadian boys wearing knee pants as in America, but we also see Knickers suits which were a popular style in England. Knee pants were virtually universal for American boys at the turn-of-the 20th century. We think that they were also common in Canada, but can not yet confirm this.

Knickers

We see Canafian boys wearing knicker suits in the late-19th century. This was a popular style in England. Canadian boys at the turn of the century seem to be commonly wearing knicker suits A very large porortion of the photographs we have archived during the early-20th century of boys in suits show boys wearing kneepants and knickers with long stockings. We note boys wearing both above- and below-the- knees knickers. Even older teenagers wore knickers. Before World War I (1914-18) boys commonly wore knicker suits to hifg school. This became less common after the War. After the War boys began wearing kneesocks although long stockings continued to be worn with knicker suits for years. Knickers were quite common through the 1930s. The style persisted into the mid-1950s a little longer than in America. The cut of knickers varied substantially over time. We also note them being worn with long stockings in Canada to a greater extent than in America, especially during the 30s. Canadian fashions were influenced by both America and Britin. In this case the American influence is more prevalent because knickers were much more commonly worn in America than Britain.

Bloomer Knickers

It is not always easy to determine if boysxare wearing knickers or bloomer knickes in available portraits. One example is an unidentified Totonto boy.

Short Pants

Short pants suits became increasingly popular after World War I, showing the influence of English fashions. This occurred despite the climate. The British influence was probably a factor here, especially among boys attending private schools. Short pants suits appear to have been more common than in America.

Created: 11:31 PM 11/3/2008
Last updated: 8:21 PM 9/9/2010