Figure 1.--School photographs in schools where the children did not wear smocks are a good relflection of contemporary styles. This photograph was taken in 1934-35 at Ginasio Parini in Milan. It is the first year boys. As it is a ginasio (secondry school), it reflects how middle class and affluent boys were dressed in Italy at the time. Note that most boys wear short pants with ankle socks. Click on the image to see the rest of the class.

We note a wide range of outfits worn bybItakian boys during the 1930s. Rompers might be worn by younger boys in fashionable families, although we are unsure when they first appeared. Sandals appear to have been especially popular. School photographs can be a useful indicator of clothing styles. Many boys went barefoot, especially in rural areas and the south. Some boys in primary school wore smocks, but there were no uniforms in secondary schools. We note that boys entering Gynasio (secondary school) mostly wear short pannts. These would have been boys about 12 years old. A gynasio (secondary school) is not a good cross section of the Italian population, but rather would have been made up of the more affluent families--mostly middle class families. This photograph was taken in 1934-35 at Ginasio Parini in Milan. We note a few boyswearing sailor sits, but not very many. Only a few boys wear kneesocks, but this was presumably seasonal. Many boys wear suits, but it was apparently not required. There are boys with ties and open collar shirts.

Garments

Younger boys after infancy were no longer wearing dresses to any extent. Rompers might beworn by younger boys in fashionable families, althogh we are unsure when they first appeared. We notice both short and long-sleeved shirts as well as plain "T"-shirts. Sweaters were popular in cool weather. We note both sleeved and sleeveless sweaters. Sailor suits were still worn, but were much less common than in the 1920s. Middle-c;ass boys might wear suits. Most Italian boys wore short pants, but we see long pants being worn in some mostly rural aeeas. Some boys especially older boys might wear knickers. Short pants were much more common. Ankle socks were common. Kneesocks might be worn when dressing up or in cool weather. Long stoclings were also worn in cool weather, mostly bt younger boys. Many boys did not wear hosiery and either went barefoot or wore sandals. Sandals appear to have been especially popular. We note several different styles.

Schoolwear

School photographs can be a useful indicator of clothing styles. Many boys in primary school wore smocks, which mkes it difficult to assess popular styles. There were no uniforms in secondary schools and smocks were not commonly worn by the older children. We note that boys entering Gynasio (secondary school) mostly wear short pannts. These would have been boys about 12 years old. A gynasio (secondary school) is not a good cross section of the Italian population, but rather would have been made up of the more affluent families--mostly middle class families. This photograph was taken in 1934-35 at Ginasio Parini in Milan. We note a few boys wearing sailor sits, but not very many. Only a few boys wear kneesocks, but this was presumably seasonal. Many boys wear suits, but it was apparently not required. There are boys with ties and open collar shirts.

Social Class Differences

There could be major differences between the way boys from affluent and poor families dressed. Boys from families that were in comfortable circimstances might wear sack suits or sailor suits with short pants, kneesocks or ankle socks and leather shoes or sandals. Many Italian boys from working-class might wear simply a "T"-shirt and shorts and go barefoot. Some might have inexpensive rope sandals. Some of the same differenes might be observed netween urban and rural children. After World War II these social-class differences began to decline. Differences like this are one reason Italian primary children commonly wore smocks to school.

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Created: February 26, 2004
Last updated: 7:06 PM 6/23/2013