Figure 1.--

Knickers began to become less common by the early 1940s and were not commonly worn by 1945. American boys in the 1940s still commonly wore shorts, although not as old boys as in Europe. The shorts for younger boys could be cut briefly, but older boys wore them at knee length. Shorts were not yet regarded as purely summer wear. Some boys would wear shorts even when it was chilly enough for a sweater. Older boys, however, increasingly wanted long pants. American boys by the early 1950s most America boys wore long pants, often jeans. The increasingly popular jeans were not considered fashionable, however, and many secondary schools did not allow them, although his had begun to change by the late 1960s. Shorts were more common in some areas such as the South and California. Also more affluent boys would often have a short pants suit for dress occasions, but rarely for boys over 11 or 12. Older boys did generally not wear shorts, even for casual wear in the 1940s-50s, although they began to become more popular for older boys in the 1960s. During the 1960's many old the jeans became cutoffs. It was quite popular in California during the summer months for boys of all ages wearing these shorts. Mothers didn't want to sew patches and the became cutoffs. Usually midway and up. One HBc reader reports thst he knew some mothers had trouble in cutting the pants and had to re-cut the pants to equal the other side.

Types

Knickers were still commonly worn in the early 1940s, but rapidly passed out of fashion. Most boys wanted to wear long pants. Younger boys, especially in the 1940s wore shorts.

Knickers

Knickers began to become less common by the early 1940s and were not commonly worn by 1945. American boys in the 1940s still commonly wore shorts, although not as old boys as in Europe.

Short pants

The short pants s for younger boys could be cut briefly, both boxer play shorts and the formal shorts worn for Eton suits. Older boys tended , however, wore them at knee length. Shorts were not yet regarded as purely summer wear. Some boys would wear shorts even when it was chilly enough for a sweater. During the 1960's many old the jeans became cutoffs. It was quite popular in California during the summer months for boys of all ages wearing these shorts. Mothers didn't want to sew patches and the became cutoffs. Usually midway and up. One HBC reader reports thst he knew some mothers had trouble in cutting the pants and had to re-cut the pants to equal the other side. While short pants had become seen a little boy pants by many, we notice sone college boys and teenagers wearing Bermuda shorts as casualwear. This was mosdt common at first in the East and I think Califiornia, but boys in the Midwest were also experimenting with them as we can see with an Illinois boy in 1955.

Long pants

Older boys, however, increasingly wanted long pants. American boys by the early 1950s most America boys wore long pants, often jeans. The increasingly popular jeans were not considered fashionable, however, and many secondary schools did not allow them, although his had begun to change by the late 1960s. Boys wore slacks to school in the 1950s, at least high school. Most primary (elementary) schools allowed jrans, but high schools did not. Khakis were particularly popular. Manufacturers introduced some detailong changes, some of which proved popular for a time. One of the most popular style had a small purely ornamental belt with a buckle acrooss the back just under the real belt loops. These little belts wre popular in the mid-1950s. Pleats were out, most boys wanted plain fronts pants. After the little ornamental belts lost popularity, a popular style was pants with flaps on the back pockets. I'm less sure about tghe time frame here, thus may have streached into the 1960s. The pants with these stylistic details were copnsidered "cool" by the kids. It was noticed whether you wore the popular styles or not. We note that these "cool" pants were not made in all sizes. One write remembers as a boy that he wore "husky" sizes which were often not made with the popular detailing and worse still often had front pleats. [Murray H. Schweitzer, "Fashion woes of the big-boned boy," Washington Post January 28, 2002.] Slacks began to decline in popularity during the 1960s as schools began to relent about jeans.

Regional Differences

Shorts were more common in some areas such as the South and California. HBC has, however, collected little information to document this. Even in California, long pants were commonly worn to most schools.

Social Differences

The prevalence of short pants appears to have been influenced by social status. More affluent American boys would often have a short pants suit for dress occasions, but rarely for boys over 11 or 12. Boys from less affluent families were much less likely to wear shorts. Many affluent boys went sent to exclusive private schools, often based on the English model, with short pants uniforms. Other HBC readers have reported similar observations. HBC has, however, little documentation to confirm this.

Age Differences

Older boys did generally not wear shorts, even for casual wear in the 1940s-50s, although they began to become more popular for older boys in the 1960s.

Created: February 20, 2001
Last updated: 6:45 PM 5/8/2006