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American boys wore all kind of pants and trousers during th 1930s and this varied over the decade with long pants becoming inceasingly prevalenbt by the end of the decade. Because of the varied type of pants and changing popularity, the age conventions are complicated. There were also seasonal variation. A major factor in pants selectiomn during the decade was age, but this varied from family to family. Knickers were very common for boys throughout the 1930s, although the popularity of knickers had declined considerably by the end of the decade. We no longer see older teens wearing knickers. Younger teens might wear them to high school, but this was much less common by the end of the decade. wemostly see knickers in grade or elementary (primary) school. We see mostly school-age boys wearing knickers outside of school as well in the 1930s. It was less common for teenagers to wear them, except for some younger teens, especially in the early-30s. Some mostly younger boys wore short pants and some mostly older boys wore long pants in the early-30s, but by the end of the decade, long pants were becoming more prevalent. Short pants usage varied. Some boys, mostly younger boys, wore short pants all year round. Shorts were especially common with pre-school boys and boys just beginning school. This was less common in the northern states, although boys wearing shorts might wear long stockings during the winter. Other boys wore shorts seasonally. Some boys even younger boys did not wear shorts at all, even during the summer. We also see different usages. Some boys wore short pants suits while other boys just wore shorts as casual msummer wear. This also varied with age as well as social class.
American boys wore all kind of pants and trousers during th 1930s and this varied over the decade with long pants becoming inceasingly prevalent by the end of the decade. Because of the varied type of pants and changing popularity, the age conventions are complicated. Short pants were common for pre-school boys. The pattern was more varied for schoo-age boys. Knickers were very common for boys throughout the 1930s, although the popularity of knickes had declined considerably by the end of the decade. We no longer see older teens wearing knickers.
We see short pants, knicker, and long pants suits during the 1930s. Some mostly younger boys wore short pants and some mostly older boys wore long pants in the early-30s, but by the end of the decade, long pants were becoming more prevalent. Short pants usage varied. Some boys, mostly younger boys, wore short pants all year round. Shorts were especially common with pre-school boys and boys just beginning school to about age 7-8 years. We do not see many teenagers wearing shorts even during the summer, except Scouts and then mostly at camp. Knickers were still worn by younger teens at the beginning of the decade, but almost entirely by pre-teens at the end if the decde. Because we have many snapshots and portraits of brothers we have a good idea of common age convenions, although there were variations from family to family. Hhere we see brothers age 8-11 yeas of age suggesting that the transition to knickers was made at about age 10 years. School portraits provide an even better view of generalized conventions. This is all complicated by the fact that the age convntioins varied seasonally as wel as circumstances. Thus boys might wear shorts for play, but knickers or long pants when dressung up ot visa versa, depending on the mother's proclivities.
The major trend was the increasing popularity of long pants suits. Some younger teens might wear knickers in the early-30s, but we rarely see this by the end of the decade. Here it was not just age cinvntiins, but the fact tht knickers were going out of style.
At the beginning of the 1930s, most pre-teens had either shortbosnt or jnicker syits. A major shift was that fewer older boys were wearing short pants when dressing up, especially older boys. Tge same was true of knicker suits. By the end of the decade, most American boys had long poants suits, although short pants suits were still worn. Juvenilr Eton suits, mostly with short pants were becoming the dominant style of shirt pants suits.
There were also seasonal variation which affected the age conventions. This was less common in thevnorthern states, although boys wearing shorts might wear long stockings during the winter. Other boys wore shorts seasonally. Some boys even younger boys did not wear shorts at all, even during the summer. We also see different usages. Some boys wore short pants suits while other boys just wore shorts as casual msummer wear. This also varied with age as well as social class. The conventions for casual summer shorts were becoming different than those for dresswear. Earlier boys wore shorts or knickers to a cerain age all year round and then at a certain age shifted to long pants all year round. We see pre-teen boys wearing shorts during the summer, especially in the South. Many boys also wore knickers or long pants even during hot summer weather. This varied from family tobfamily as well as regionlly.
Often mothers had ages in mind for the transition from short pants. Commedian Wally Cox recalls the problem he had withbhis mother abiut wearing short ants to school and his desire for a pair of knickers. His mother had very definite ideas on the matter. A major factor in pants selectiomn during the decade was age, but this varied from family to family. Mothers seemed to have had different ideas about the appropriate age conventions for the different types of pants. We are not sure just what the governing factors here were. Family experiences were surely one.
Social-class conventions were another.
Short pants were very common for younger boys during the 1930s. Most boys after the first year or two of school wanted knickers or long pants for school. That meant mostly knickers in the early 30s, but more boys were wearing long pants by the end of the decade. Younger teens might wear knickers to high school, but this was much less common by the end of the decade. we mostly see knickers in grade or elementary (primary) school. We see mostly school-age boys wearing knickers outside of school as well in the 1930s. It was less common for teenagers to wear them, except for some younger teens, especially in the early-30s.
Age conventions for pants were very different between America and Europe. Short pants were widely worn by school-age boys in Europe, both casual shorts as wel as school and dress shorts. This was not the case in America. Knickers were widely worn by school age boys in merica, but not short pants. Knickers were also worn un Europoe, but they were not nearly as common. We see boys wearing them at avout 15 years of age. By the nd of the cedade we see youngr boys wearing them during the winter.
Scouting was a good example. American Cubs and Scouts wore mostly knicker uniforms. In Europe, short pants were almost universalfor Cubs and Scouts.
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