Figure 1.--This fun 1949 shows four brothers in front of their home dressed for some serious play. Notice the short hair cuts, striped T-shirts, cuffed jeans and sneakers. The little boy wears civeralls. Also notice that the boys are still wearing the standard wire-rimmed glasses.

We notice enormous changes during the post-War era. We see the increasing popularity of casual styles. Suits declined substantially in popularity. The "T" shirt becamne a boys' standard, especially striped shirts. America entered World War II after Pearl Harbor (1941). There were already major fashion changes underwear. Knickers which had been a boys standard were disappearing. The War hasetened a variety of changes. The War had tremendous cinsequences for Anerica and fashion was part of that change. As in World war I, fashion shifted toward casual styles. Pre-War styles like knickers and long stockings rapidly disappeared. Boys increasingly wore long pants. Short pants became increasingly casual summer wear. Overalls rapidly disappeared, alyhough jeans emerged as a major style and girls weven began wearing them. .

The 1940s

The 1940s were a key decade in the evolution of modern children's clothes. Few decades showed such sharp change in boys' fashions as the 1940s. Major changes occurred in boys' fashions during the decade as so often is the case following major wars and other social upheavel. The decade was one of the most significant periods in the history of boys' fashions. Boys still wore knickers and short pants at the beginning of the decade. By the end of the decade, however, knickers had disappeared and most boys were clammering for long pants. Not only that, two of the most important fashions in boys clothes appeared in the years after the war. Boys began wearing "T" shirts with bright horizontal stripes. Jeans also appeared at the same time. These staples are now worn by boys by virtually every nation around the world. Kneesocks disappeared except for formal dress short pants suits and even with suits ankle socks were common.

The 1950s

Fashion trends in the 1950s were primarily a continuation of the trends initiated in the 1940s. Suits were much less common. Madras and searsucker jackets were popular. They were part of the preppy fashions of button-down shirts, chinos, and loafers that swept American college campuses. Jeans were just becoming popular in Urban America. The 1950s were the decade that jeans really became accepted. Most boys virtually lived in jeans. It became much less common to wear short pants. Little boys commonly wore Eton suits. Strangely while younger boys turned away from shorts, older boys on collehe campuses began wearing casual shorts--usually Bermudas. We see shorts in different materials, including madras and searsucker. Elementary boys began wearing jeans to school, but they weren't allowed in high schools. Hair-cuts were short, often military-style "crew-cuts." Boys in some wore short pants, at least until they were 11 or so, but most American boys except when they were very small wore long pants. Some boys wore long pants for school and play, but had a short pants suit for church. For most boys long pants were a symbol of manhood and they wanted them as soon as possible. Few radical new styles were introduced in the 1950s. Continuing the trend set in the 1940s, fewer older boys now wore short pants suits, it had become a style for younger boys. Jeans had become a virtual uniform for the American boy. Interesingly, they were never worn as jean short pants--always longs. They had not yet gained, respectability, however, as were no worn--except by young boys to school or social events. "T"-shirts with bold horizontal stripes were the most common summer garment with jeans. Boys wear their hair short, crew cuts were popular. Elvis' side burns were the first step in introducing longer hair. The 1950s had shaggy beatnicks, but they had nothing like the influence of the hippies in the 1960s. The 1950s for most Americans were a peaceful interlude of certainties before the 1960s with the Civil Rights movement and War in Vietnam. Thus there were no bold new fashion iniatives as is often the case in settled times.

The 1960s

The 1960s for middle class Americans were those now so innocent seeming, yet turbulent years. All elements of American life began "heating up" in the 1960s. And the 60s along with the 20s are the two most remembered decades of the 20th century. Important changes occurred in boys' fashions during the 1960s. The decade set many important fashion trends. It was the last decade in which American boys, except for very young boys, wore short pants suits. Shortalls became popular for little boys. Younger boys wore Eton suits with suspender shorts. Older boys wore short pants suits with adult-styled jackets. Black or navy blue were particularly popular colors. While dressy shorts were going out of style, shorts for play and casual wear were becoming very popular. Boys began wearing cutoffs when their jeans needed patches--usually at the knee. Mother just cut them down. The preppylook of the 1950s continued popular for older boys. Jeans became increasingly common and by thee nd of the decade had even began to gain respectability. "T"-shirts were everywhere. The Beatles and the War in Vietnam had a huge impact on fashion. Boys began wearing longer hair. The hippies had replaced the "beatnicks" of the 1950s and had begun to make a fashion statement.

Created: 4:53 AM 6/3/2011
Last updated: 4:53 AM 6/3/2011