Figure 1.--Here we see a grouop of German orimary bos. They look to be about 10-years of age, Three of the boys wear the short-cut shorts popular in the 1970s. One boy weasr longer shorts, a style that began to becone popur in Frace by the end of e decade. The snapshot is undated, perhaps someone can date the Mercedes for us.

Long pants became the standard German boys' wear during the 1970s. This was especially true when dressing up or during the winter. We no longer see German boys wearing short pants suits, except for the very youngest. Even primary schoolboys mostly wore long pants. And we no longer see boys wearing short pants during the cold winter weater. This seems to be true in both West and East Germany. We are not entirely sure how fashion trends were linked. West German magzines were not freely available in the East after the Wall went up (1961), but most East Germans, especially East Berliners, could view West German television. While boys We still see German boys wearing short pants, but almost exclisively as casual wear during the summer with a variety of 'T'-shirts. Many primary boys wore shorts during the summer and even some younger teens. Most teens wore jeans which became popular during the 60s. Here the appearance of jeans had a major impact, especially among teenagers. Most teens stopped wearing shorts even in the summer. We do not see as many of the sporty styled shorts that were popular in the United States. Most shorts were stadard short pants without athletic styling. Not do we note trunk-style boxers withot flies. Boys wre belts and we no longer see suspender shorts whivh were once common. Here Lederosen were an exception. We note straight hems. The shorts were commonly cut very short. Jean shorts were popuar, both those done in denim and other materuiaks. We no longer see shorts worn much at school, exceopt when the weather turns warm and even then we mostly see long pants. By the end ofthe decadecwe begin t see longer-ut shorts, a style tht first appeared in Frace. We also no longer see knee socks to ny extent. As shorts becae summer wear, we mostly see them being iorn with ankle socks, both colored socks ahd striped siocks. We no longer see boys wearing shorts with leaher shes, but begin to see mostly sneakers and sabdas.

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Created: 7:58 PM 1/20/2012
Last updated: 7:58 PM 1/20/2012