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We notice many of the same styles worn throughout Europe also worn by Italian boys. We have not yet developed detailed information on Italian boys clothing, in part because we have realtively few images from Italy as well as little information on Italian fashion. This is a serious shortcoming as Italy is an especially important country concerning European fashion. We note many Italian boys wearing sailor suits in the early 20th century. We are less sure how common Fauntleroy suits were. Knee pants were commonly worn by Italian boys of all ages. We are less sure about hosiery trends, but believe that because of the climate that long stockings were less common than in northern Europe. We note Italian children waring school smocks in the early-20th century, but are unsure how common smocks were outside of school. Rompers might be worn by younger boys. Sandals appear to have been especially popular. Short pants became common after World War I and were commonly worn by Italian boys through the 1950s. Older boys might wear knickers. Knee socks and long stockings were not as common in Italy, especially southern Italy, presumably because of the climate. We note Italian boys wearing singlet type undershirts as casual shirts. Long pants began to become more common in the 1960s. Italian bous by the 1970s were commonly wearing jeans. The pan-European fashion trends by the 1980s meant that there were few destinctive styles worn in Italy as elsewhere in Europe.
We note many Italian boys wearing sailor suits in the early 20th century. We are less sure how common Fauntleroy suits were. Knee pants were commonly worn by Italian boys of all ages. Social class was a major factor in how children were dressed. The industrialn north had an affluent emerging middle class in the cities and the children wore fashionable clothing. The rural peasantry dressed differently, especially the virtually feudal south. We see the typical Italian peasant clothing still being commonly worn. We are less sure about hosiery trends, but believe that because of the climate that long stockings were less common than in northern Italy. Working-classc and rural children commonly went barefoot. Both family income and the climate were factors.
The clothing styles of the 1900s continued into the 1910s. We continue to see the typical Italian peasant clothing in rural areas that was so common in the 19th century. This entailed an often non-descript hat with a wide brim, long sleeve shirt, vest, long trousers, and bare feet. Middle class boys in the cities, especially yhe industrial north dressed in more fashionalble clothing similar to those worn in France and Germany. Sailor suits continued to be a popular style. Knee pants had become standard wear in the cities and were evolving into short pants. Italy entered World War I on the Allied side despite pre-War alliances with the Central Powers. The War adversely affected the economic situation and this affected the economic situation of the population and ability of the population to purchase clothing, especially fashionable clothing.
We note Italian children wearing school smocks in the early 20th century. There are manu images available beginning in the 1920s, but we believe that smocks were commonly wore to school before World War I as well. We are unsure how common smocks were outside of school. Short pants became common after World War I and were commonly worn by Italian boys through the 1950s. Older boys might wear knickers. Kneesocks and long stockings were not as common in Italy, especially southern Italy, presumably because of the climate.
We note a wide range of outfits worn by Italian 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 boys wearing sailor suits, but not very many. Only a few boys wear knee socks, but this was presumably seasonal. Many boys wear suits, but it was apparently not required. There are boys with ties and open collar shirts.
We note Italian boys wearing singlet type undershirts as casual shirts. Suspender shorts were worn by many school-age boys. Some information is available on Italy during World War II. Italy was not a rich country to begin with, especially southern Italy. But unlike Germany, the War did not go well for Italy from the beginning. Italian forces did not do wellagainst the French even though the French Army was disintegrating from the German invasion. Abd then the Italians did poorly when they invaded Greece (October 1940) and Egypt (December 1940), or the Soviet Union (June 1941). All of these military campaigns put huge pressure on the weak Italian economy. Then the Allies began bombing along with mass surrenders in Tunisia (May 1943) and Sicily (July 1943). Ultimately Italy surrenderd to the Allies and switched sides. This resulted in a German invasion and a campaign up the Italian peninsula. This resulted in massive destruction and an impoverished population. Italian children were left in rags or clothes that they had outgrown. Pverty in Italy was klargely the case in southern Italy. As a result of the War, hiowever, we begin seeing abject poverty jin the orisperous north as well.
After World War II there was a general belief that it would take decades for Europe to recover. Now this is what occurred in the socialist imposed evomomies hehind the Soviet imposed Iron Curtain. In fact the economies there never recovered. The Germany backed by the Western Allies chose a different route. They decided to channel the amazing powers of capitalism to rebuild the econmomy. The impact was the German Economic Miracle (beginning in the late-1940s). Germany was economic engine of Europe. And soon countries like Italy were pulled along. This at first began with the Germans attracting Italian workers, but soon this led to raod advances in Italian industry as well and the Italian Economic Miracle. Children's clothing did not change immedaitelkt, but as incomes rise, we see children being dressed better in the older styles. And by the end of the 1950s decades we see children wearing fashionable new styles. The most easily observable develooment was fewer children going barefoot, even in southern Italy. Ny the end of the decade, Italy had not only largely recovered, but was more prosperous than at any time in its history. .
Long pants began to become more common in the 1960s, but many boys still wore short pants. The shorts worn tended to be quite long. Some boys still had short pants suits, but this had become less common by the end of the decade as shorts begamne an increasingly casual style. Suspender shorts declined in popularity. Many boys wore shorts with short socks rather than kneesocks. Smocks were still very common for schoolwear. By the end of the decade, many boys were wearing their hair longer. European ecoinomic propsperity meant that by the 1960s, increasing numbers of Italian families had the earnings to dress thaeir children better than ever before. It became increasingly rare, for example, to see barefoot children.
Italian buys like other European boys less commoly wore suits and dressed up in the 1970s. Casual clothing was becoming part of the vstandaed pan-European style. And when suits were worn we see far fewer boys wearimng short pants suitswhich were still widely worn in the 1960s. Knee socks were also becoming less common for boys. We see more different styles of casual shorts being worn in the 1970s. The same styles worn in America and popiular throughout Europe, many with an athletic or sports look. Boys still commonly wore shorts, biut now as casual clothing and especially as warm weather summer seasonal wear. We see sleeveless shirts like tank tops or even basic singlet undershirts. We are not sure what the Italian terms were. Singlets were also worn by men as anyone who has seen an italism movie knows. They were more common than t-shirts, at least among young children. Flip flops were also common. in the summer. Italian boys by the 1970s began more commonly wearing jeans, but shorts were still common. Some boys began wearing their hair longer.
The pan-European fashion trends by the 1980s meany that there were few destinctive styles worn in Italy as elsewhere in Europe. Younger boys still commonly wore short pants, sometimes with kneesocks. By the end of the decade the longer lenhth shorts ha replaced the shorter cut.
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