*** United States boys clothes : chronology 1910s garment page








United States Boys' Clothes Chronology: The 1910s--Garments

down-turned boys' hats
Figure 1.--Here the boys are seeing dad off on a business trip. Down turned wide-brimmed hats were a destinctive 1910s style for younger boys. Flat caps were virtually universal for older boys.

We note a variety of trends involving the various garments worn by American boys during the 1910s. The fashion of outfitting boys in dresses continued to be quite common at the turn of the century, but by the 1910s it was becoming less common. Little boys more commonly wore the newer fashions like rompers, tunic suits, and short pants. The custom of little boys wearing dresses did not disappear entirely. The style of the dresses increassingly were plainer frocks and not the more fancy girlish styles with elaborate lace and ruffle trim. Rompers were widely worn by boys after the turn of the century. They may have appeared before 1900, but they were not widely worn in the 1890s. I am not sure preciselt when rompers first appeared. I'm also not sure how they varied in the 1900s and 1910s. (Any insights HBC visitors might have would be most appreciated. They were a style for generally younger boys. Many of the boys outfitted in rompers might have worn dresses before the turn of the century. They were an informal style in the early 20th Century, but some dressier styles appeared in the 1920s and later period. One of the most characteristic styles of the early 20th Century in America was the tunic suit. This style was most popular in the 1900s, but still widely worn at the beginning of the 1910s. By the end of the decade, however, it had passed from the fashion scene. Many mothers who might have dressed their boys in dresses, instead appear to have chosen the related tunic style. To many boys, tunics were preferable to dresses as they good wear knicker-like bloomers that showed they were no longer wearing girlish dresses. A variety of outfits appeared for younger boys not yet deemed old enough for more mature looking suits. These outfits usually were made with short pants, usually cut rather long at knee-length. Shorter short pants did not begin to appear until the 1920s. These suits were often worn with white socks, but long stockings were still worn. Some still had the belted-styling of the tunic suit. Both colored and stripped material were common. The outfits varied greatly. American boys mostly wore knee pants at the turn of the century. As the decade progressed knickers became increasingly popular, but during the 1910s kneepants were still very common. younger boys still wore knee pants and by the end of the decade some boys were wearing the new short pants that had become popular in England. Younger boys also wore a kind of above the knee bloomer pants that were worn under tunic suits. Older boys as the decade progressed increasingly were wearing knickers, but there are many images showing older boys wearing knee pants during the decade. Knickers were not new. They had been worn in England for decades. The were also worn in America during the 19th Century, but were much less common than knee pants. The short pants that were increasingly worn in Europe at this time never proved as popular in America. Younger boys still wore wide-brimmed hats. The extremely wide-brimmed straw hats worn by very little boys in the 1900s were now less common. Some sailor hats had the brims turned down. Boys also wore sailor caps with rhe still popular sailor suit. Older boys might wear straw boaters. The most common style had by the 1910s, however, become the flat cap. Younger boys might wear strap shoes for dressy occasions. High top shoes continued to be commonly worn. They were mostly lace up shoes because button shoes were increasingly less worn. The low-cut oxford shoe began to increase in importance. We see knee socks, but they were not yet very common, children continued wering three-quarter socks and long stockings.

Headwear

Hats declined in popularity for boys in the 1910s. We see far fewer boys wearing hats. Younger boys still wore wide-brimmed hats. The extremely wide-brimmed straw hats worn by very little boys in the 1900s were now less common. Some sailor hats had the brims turned down. This is a signature style of the 1910s. Younger boys still wearing hats often wore them with the brim or part of it bent up or dowm. Some hats like boaters had stiff brims tht could not be folded down. Other hats had more flexible brims that could be worn in many different ways. This was largely a style for children from well-to-do families. Most boys wore caps. Boys also wore sailor caps with the still popular sailor suit. We also see peaked capsbat the beginning of the decade. . Older boys might wear straw boaters. The most common style had by the 1910s, however, become the flat cap. The flat cap continued to grow in popularity during the 1910s. Caps in the 1900s were more diverse. We still see other caps in the 1910s, but the flat cap was decidely the most popular style. The flat cap is today seen as a rather casual style, but for boys in the 1910s it was worn both as a casual style as well as a more formal style with a suit. Many boys wore flat caps to school. We see other cap styles mostly in the winter. Boys in northern states might wears woodsmen caps. The flat cap could be worn during the winter and many flat caps had flaps that could be pulled down over the ears. The British-style peaked cap which was quite common in the 1900s declined in popularity. It also took on a more upper-class association and became more of a formal style worn with suits. The American Boy Scouts adopted the broad-brimmed hat used by the Brirish Scouts and most other Scouts around the world. There were no Scout caps in the 1910s.

Skirted Garments

Younger boys for centuries were dressed like their sisters. This varied from country to country, but was commin in Europoe and also in America. This was prevalent in the 19th century, although we seea destinct declkimn in the 1890s and far fewer any younger boys wearin skirted garment in the 1900s. In vurtually a blink of an eye, a convention which was prevalent fir centuries suddenly passed away. And diud so without any fanfare or commrent. Without any real fanafare. It is still not jknow why this happened. By the 1910s this conventiion had largely disappeared with one major exceotion--tunic suits. Tunics had been worn in the 19th century, but were not all that common. Then for some reason which we do not fully understand becamr very connon at the turn -pf the 20th century and were commonly worn in both the 1900s and 10s.

short pants
Figure 3.-- A rnge of outfits for little boys began appearing in the early-20rg centuyr. Some were dressy, others were designed as play suits. Manby younger boys contiunued wearing knee pants while older boys wore knickers. Short onts began to appear at the ebd of the 1910s.

Little Boy Outfits

A variety of outfits appeared for younger boys not yet deemed old enough for more mature looking suits. We see rompers, tunic suits (also called Buster Brown suits), Oliver Twist sits, and sailor suits. Rompers were widely worn by boys after the turn of the century. They may have appeared before 1900, but they were not widely worn in the 1890s. I am not sure preciselt when rompers first appeared. I'm also not sure how they varied in the 1900s and 1910s. (Any insights HBC visitors might have would be most appreciated. They were a style for generally younger boys. Many of the boys outfitted in rompers might have worn dresses before the turn of the century. They were an informal style in the early 20th century, but some dressier styles appeared in the 1920s and later period. Unlike France they were generall reserved for the toddler age range. Tunics were worn in the 19th century, but after the turn of the 20th century they became enormously popular. They continued to be worn in the 1910s. They could be play outfits or worn for special ooccassions. Here the material used could be a factor. Other outfits usually were made with shortened-length pants, usually cut rather long at knee-length. Shorter short pants did not begin to appear until the 1920s. These suits were often worn with white socks, but long stockings were still worn. We see the belted-styling of the tunic suit. Both colored and stripped material were common. The outfits varied greatly. Most were functional, plain suits much more practical than the fussy Fauntleroy suits once worn by little boys. Some were made for dressy occasions while increasingly more were made as play suits--a harbinger of the casual styles to come. Increasing concessions weremade for yiounger children. Many of these outfits were acceotal for smart casual or even formal affairs. Blouses still common. Younger boys might have especially fancy ones whiuch might still qualify as Fauntleroy styles.

above the knee knickers
Figure 4.--Boys in the 1910s began to wear knickers with socks rather than long stockings. Notice the younger boy has not yet outfitted with a Norfolk jacket like his older brothers.

Pants

American boys mostly wore kneepants at the turn of the century. As the decade progressed knickers became increasingly popular, but during the 1910s knee pants were still very common. younger boys still wore kneepants and by the end of the decade some boys were wearing the new short pants that had become popular in England. Younger boys also wore a kind of above the knee bloomer pants that were worn under tunic suits. Older boys as the decade progressed increasingly were wearing knickers, but there are many images showing older boys wearing knee pants during the decade. Knickers were not new. They had been worn in England for decades. The were also worn in America during the 19th Century, but were much less common than kneepants. The short pants that were increasingly worn in Europe at this time never proved as popular in America. Younger boys wore shorts, but not older boys. Even American Boy Scouts during the 1910s mostly wore knickers--the only group of Scouts in the world not to wear shorts. American boys wore knickers various lengths. The knickers most popular in the 1910s buckled above the knee. Boys much preferred the style that buckled below the knee. Some arguments ensued with mothers who insisted that their sons buckle their knickers above the knee. Many boys would rebuckle them below the knee as soon as they left the house. Knickers were worn by a large cross section of American boys, including older teenagers. It was not unusual to see high-school aged boys, even the upperclassmen wearing knickers. Long pants for American boys were not unusual, althogh kneepants and by the 1910s, knickers, were much more common. Rural boys, however, did commonly wear long pants--usually blue jeand which were then called overalls. Bib front overalls were the most common style. They were not much worn in the cities. Boys might wear white knickers during the summer. This was the only decade in which white knickers were commonly worn. Younger boys might wear white short pants. Adults also wore white pants during the summer--usually flannels. Boys in Europe during the 1910s began wearing suits with short pants. The knicker fashion was much less common. American boys did not, however, begin wearing short pants suits. Youngervboys did begin wearing various short pants outfits, but not suits. Almost all American boys in this era wore knicker suits.

Suits

Boys by the age of about 8 years wore suits, with jackets often styled like thiose worn by adults. Younger boys might have casual looking open collars. One of the most popular style was the Norfolk suit with all kinfs of pockets and belts. Other more modern looking single and double breasted styles were also worn. Older boys would usually wear ties--the first decade in which modern ties appeared. Almost all of thee suits were worn with knickers. Even older boys commonly wore knicker suits.

Hosiery

American boys continued wearing shortened-length pants in the 1910s. There was, however, a major departure from European trends. American boys generally shifted from the knee pants worn in the 1900s to the knickers worn in the 1910s. Baden Powell's Boy Scouts began to popularize kneesocks in the 1910s, but this does not seem to have had a major impact on the hosiery boys wore. We do not see knickers nearly as commonly in Europe. This was the first major departure for fashions between American and Europe. At about the same time another major difference occurred, overalls became commonly worn in rural areas. I am not sure what kind of hosiery these boys wore. Many came to school barefoot during the warmer months. Most American boys continued wearing long stockings. We see some boys wearing knee socks with above-the-knee knicklers showing their knees, but this was not very common. The exception here was boys in rural areas who cane to school in overalls that became popular in the 1900s. Black long stockings were still very popular and widely worn by boys and girls. Most school photographs show boys coming to school in knickers and long stockings. We see younger boys wearing knee pants with three-quarter socks, mostly during the summer.

Long Stockings

American boys in the 1910s still commonly wore long stockings with knickers. Yonger boys commonly wore white stockings which was considred a rather dressy look. Long white stockings were very fashionable for youngr boys and girls early in the decade, but were not commonly worn by boys by the end of the decade. Yonger boys might go barefoot or wear socks, but until the 1910s it was not common to see older boys in socks. This was most common in the summer. The uncomfortable long stockings were increasingly replaced with socks, often three-quarter length socks. Rompers became very popular for younger boys. Increasingly as the decade progressed, some boys began wearing their knickers with socks--usually three-quarter length socks.

Knee Socks

Knee socks were introduced in the 1910s. At first they seem to be just rolled down long stockings. They were not commonly worn until the 1920s. Long stockings were still much more common. It is a little diffucult to assess because boys wore knee pants covering the knee. Thus it is difficult to tell the length of hosiery. This only becomes easy to se when boys begn wearing short pants.

Footwear

Footwear became increasingly varied in the 1910s. Younger boys might wear strap shoes for dressy occasions. High top shoes continued to be commonly worn. They were mostly lace up shoes because button shoes were increasingly less worn. The low-cut oxford shoe began to increase in importance. We also begin to see sandals with both boys and girls wearing them. After the 1910s they becane increasingly worn by girls. .









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Created: 4:09 PM 8/20/2017
Last updated: 7:11 PM 5/22/2022