An American Boy in the 1960s: Chicago and California

I grew up in Chicago and California. My mother had European tastes concerning fashions. I wore short pants to Catholic School through the 8th grade. This was not "acceptable" to other boys in the 1960s and 70s so my friend Michael and I were always dodging abuse. An 8th grader in grey or blue short pants and knee socks was considered a sissy. I remember sone pretty rough back then. but know I find it a bit exciting.

My Family

Dad

Let me say that I was not from a rich or affluent family. my father was a real estate broker. His accounts were business structures; i.e. office building/space, factories, land and upscale houses. So he was not around alot unless he had business dinners and entertained clients at the house. Needless to say, my sister and I were at our best for these. As the youngest of the two kids, I felt I was just a "show piece".

Mom

I can only guess that my mom with the British influence and the ties to Paris thought that a proper you boy dressed a certain way and that was that. I also remember that she as I guess many mothers at that time followed Jackie Kennedy fashions and we all remember JohnJohn in short pants well into his early teens. He sure didn't help. [HBC note: John appears to have worn short pants including short pamts suits as a boy. HBC has not noted him wearing short pants into his eraly teens. He seems to have begun wearing long pants at about 10 years of age.]

Parochial Schools

I attended parochial school in both Chicago and California. Especially as I got older I began having problems as my mother insisted on short pants.

Chicago

I went to Catholic schools as a boy and the uniform was blue/grey suits with white shirts and ties. This was to be worn with blue/grey slacks or short pants. Nearly all the boys wore long slacks...but my mother was insistant that I should wear short pants. This was not a popular concept in the Chicago area in the 1960s. Therefore, I was one of the only boys in shorts in the 3rd grade. All the others graduated to long pants. To add to the insult, she preferred white ankle socks or white knee socks with saddle shoes or black dress loafers or tied shoes.

The other boys didn't think much of my short pants. Chicago was a rough crowd. I was younger then so I didn't stand out so much. That said, no boy wore short pants at any time like they do now. Not even casual play shorts. So if you saw a boy in any kind of short pants ... that was unusual. But a boy "dressed up" in what would be considered a "sissy" suit and was trouble.

Early in school, living in Chicago, I sometimes wore tights with the shorts in the colder weather. This was really horrible in that NO BOY wore tights. You see, my mother was from England with strong ties to France, and to her this was acceptable. Needless to say, I rarely complained of being cold in the hope she would forgo the tights.

California

Once moving to California for the 4th grade, there was another boy in my neighborhood who went to my school and was dressed as I. He was also subject to the taunts from other boys and even the girls. We became good friends throughout the rest of grade school and into high school. His mother relented and allowed him to wear long pants in the 7th and 8th grades; but I continued to wear the shorts till the finish of 8th grade.

In California many other boys wore short pants. I was older though any wearing short pants with a blazer was considered dreessed up. And fewer and fewe bous were dressing up ion short pants. Many of the other boys at school wore shorts as play cloths but not what I wore for school. Not to say that other boys in Catholic School didn't wear the short pants uniform; but they almost exclusively went to longs after 3rd or at the latest 4th grade. I had to stay in shorts thru 8th grade...That was what was rough. Today, Catholic Schools still wear uniforms but they are casual; white sport shirts, casual blue short pants, white crew socks nd even tennis shoes. I barely dressed like that out of school or weekends.

After School

Outside of school I still wore short pants when weather permitted. Once in California, this was almost always (5-8th grade).

Shoes

I dont remember a great deal about the shoes I wore. Pretty much what the other boys were wearing. The only exception was the wedding I attended. e rest were just penny loafers or black tie shoes for school. For play time...white tennis shoes or what ever.

Friends

I don't want you to get the impression that I was a simpering sissy. I just was dressed as what my mother thought was proper for me at that time. I hold no grudges. Except for quite a bit of abuse and fights with other kids..it wasn't so bad. Many of the boys in your website dressed the same way; English, French School Boys; Belgian Choir Boys; and so on.

As far as relations with other boys.....lets see.....Up until 4th grade not so bad. Kids are kids and at that age nobody cares. Fourth grade till eighth grade when your 9, 10 11, 12 13 years old....Your considered a sissy and no discussions about it. I didn't have many friends except for Mike. We were the school wimps as far as other kids were concerned and you stay out of the way. This I guess only enhances their impression since you dont join in any games or activities with anyone else and then it just seems to grow. Its like a "Catch 22". Cant play with the others cause they don't want you.. Since you dont play with the other kids, you are a sissy. Whats a kid to do?

Michael was a friend of mine who live a couple of houses down from me and went to the same school as me in California. We were both in the same class.

Formal Wear

Church and formal gatherings were the worst. My mom and older sister picked out some beauties.

My worst outfit was for a wedding when i was 7 years old. I was chosen to be a page at a cousins wedding. My costume was picked out by my mother and older sister. It consisted of power blue satin suspender short pants, a white lace and ruffled blouse shirt with lace collar and V tie. I wore white ankle socks and Mary Jane shoes. I really hated that suit. When your in a satin suspender short pants suit with a lace and ruffled shirt and anklets...the shoes dont really matter at that point. I remember like yesterday since I was the only boy in short pant let alone dressed like a little toy doll. The teasing was relentless.

Scouts

I was never in the Boy Scouts. Never went to camp...wish I had.

Europe

I visited England and Paris as a kid. As I said, I have and continue to visit England and Europe as often as I can. When in England and France as a kid; I felt more at home there because how I was dressed fit in more there than in the States.








Christopher Wagner





Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main U.S. country page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Bibliographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Contributions] [Countries]
[Boys' Clothing Home]


Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1840s] [The 1900s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s] [The 1990s]



Created: October 6, 2000
Last updated: October 6, 2000