Figure 1.--This unidentified English family in 1946 seems to be on a walking tour vacation. Notice how formally they are dressed. Even the boy wears a tie. He looks to be aboy 12-years old. He wears a short jacket, probably a cord jacket. These short jackes were poulr after the War. Notice the baggy shorts worn with knee socks and plimsols. The khaki shorts he is wearing were common summer wear at the time.

The lack of change imediately after the World War II (1938-45) was in part due to a combination of the difficult economic straits faced by Britain as a consequence of the sacrifices and massive costs of the War as ell as the election of a Labour Government. Rationing continued for years after the War, into the 1950s. Many families were hard put to meet basic needs which left little time or money for fashionable boys' clothes. As in Germany, this mean that many boys wore short trousers longer than they would have before the War. Families did not have the money for new clothes as they did in more prosperous times. A new suit with long pants was an family expense tht could b postponed. A similar condition pervailed in Germany and other European countries during the late-1940s when quite old boys would still be wearing short pants suits. Some British chools required short pants even for teenagers. This was not the general situation, but there such schools in both Englnd and Scotlnd. This mean we see boys earing short pants for casual, school, and dress up outfits. School caps were still uniquitous. Wearing ties was still very common, In addition to suit coats we also see boys wearing short jackets, a kind of military style. Knee socks were still very common although ankle socks might be worn during the summer. Footwear inckuded shoes, sandals, and plimsols.

Created: 11:59 PM 2/20/2017
Last updated: 11:59 PM 2/20/2017