United States Boys' Clothes: 1964


Figure 1.--This advertisement for Spring clothes appeared in March 1964. Two boys here model tail-less shirts called Shirt Jacs. One boy wears short pants, which were referred to as 'walk shorts'. Note how popular white socks had become. Notice how the boys have all buttoned their collars.

Bright Madras fabric was very popular for shirts. Many boys liked button-down collars when not wearing casual shirts. One company pushed the Shirt Jac. Boys in the 1964 wore slacks. Chinos were especially popular. Boys were beginning to wear short pants, at least casual shorts, more commonly. Yoinger boys wore boxer-style shorts with elastoc waists. Older boys wore Bermuda or walk shorts, often chinos or Madras. Most boys, however rejected the "clam diggers" clothing designers were trying to introduce. American boys wore Keds sneakers, but new brands were appearing. Penny loafers were also popular. White ankle socks were the preferred hose.

Boys' Life, March 1964

This advertisement showing Spring clothing styles appeared in the March 1964 issue of Boys' Life. Boys' Like is the U.S. Scouting magazine. There were often articles and advertisements on non-Scout themes targetted at school-age boys. The spread was entitled, "Spring's in Style". The text of the accompanying article read:

There's plenty of style in Spring. Brand-new is the short-sleeved sweater, which is never out-at-the-elbow and, hitting a peak of popularity, the Shirt-Jac, which is never out at the waist. Both styles of functional, fashionable, and easy-to-care-for in new miracle fibers.

The carefree crew above, showing off spring's highlight, wear, left to right, a tapered Shirt-Jac in bold buccaner print, made of shirt-weight sailcloth, from Model, $3.98. With it, iridescent blue-green rayon shark-skin slacks from H.I.S., $4.98.

Next, hip-riding Shirt-Jac in Madras-type plaid with tapered body from Kayneem $2.95. Accompanying walk-shorts are of textured cotton from H.I.S., $3.98. Crew socks from Esquire and U.S. Keds complete this outfit.

Next, a short-sleeved tennis-type pullover of action-knit Orlon and Lycra-spandex from Huntingdon, $6.95. The pleatless navy slacks of Dacron and cotton are from McGregor, $6.98.

Then, a short-sleeved button-front sweater of Orlon with contrasting vertical stripes and side tabs, $7.98, worn over a high crew-necked cotton knit shirt, also short-sleeved, $1.79. Both from Donmoor. Greenwood Dacron and cotton poplin slacks are from Henson Club Casuals, $4.95.

Authentic bleeding India Madras Shirt Jac in vertical stripes, traditionally tailored with button-down collar, from Kaynee, $5.95. Coordinated all-cotton Greenwood Parka Trill slacks in popular antelope are from Lad 'n' Dad, $4.95.

Next, bright short-sleeved button-front seater with white silhouette detail of Orlon and Lycra-spandex from Huntingdon, $9.95. This is coordinated with white cotton clam diggers with deep flapped pockets from H.I.S., $4.49. Getting you off on the right foot are socks from Esquire and sneakers from U.S. Keds.


Figure 2.--Several companies came out with below-the-knee shorts for boys in the 1960s. Some mothers purchased them, but for the most part boys would have nothing to with them. Note the similaity with the long shorts that became popular in the 1990s.

HBC note: This Boys' Life show cases some interesting fashions. The Shirt Jac here was destinctive to the mid-1960s. It never proved particularly popular with boys. Maras shirts and shorts were very popular. Some boys would button their collars for a dressy look even when not wearing a tie. Some motherscinsisted that they do so, believing it was more proper. Boys in the 1960s were increasing wearing casual shorts. Littlevboys might wear shorter cut boxers, older boys would wear longer Bermudas or walk shorts. Short-sleeved sweaters were an inovation. Note the number of boys in shorts and longs wearing white socks. Many boys wanted to wear white athletic socks all the time. These bpys wear white socks with colored tops, showing a sports-team type influence. Soon knee-length white socks with colored bands called tube socks began to appear. Penny loafers continued to be very popular as sneakers were not yet a cultural icon. Keds were still dominate, but other brands like Converse were beginning to make inroads. One style that did not prove popular were the clam diggers. Boys just didn't like them, perhaps because they were rather like Capri pants that girls wore. Interestingly, when reintroduced in the 1990s, they proved very popular, perhaps because girls in the 1990s wore shorter shorts.

Personal Experiences

A HBC contributor comments, "I was about the same age as the boys in the ad during the 1960s. I grew up in California. The keds with the striped white socks are the same as I wore. But I didn't see anyone wearing slacks like those, nor do I remember anyone wearing a "shirt-jac". We wore madras shirts, but I'm pretty sure that they had tails. As for the buttoned collars, if I'd seen that ad at the time I would have assumed that that was something that East Coast boys did, not knowing any better. At my school, that was considered girlish." HBC notes that buttoning collar button was done on the East Coast, although boys that did it were a destinct minority. We would have viewed it as "nerdy", but I don't remember much discussion of it.

A variety of personal accounts and articles are available on the 1950s-70s.
The 1940s-50s: Sneakers and jeans
The 1950s: Beaver Goes Shopping
The 1950s: Jeans, Jeans, Jeans
The 1960s: Traveling in Europe
The 1960s: Shorts, jeans, and France
The 1960s: The Beautiful People
The 1960s: Mothers Buy Clothes






Christopher Wagner

histclo@lycosmail.com



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Created: November 22, 1998
Last updated: March 25, 2000