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American boys at the turn of the 20th century continued to wear mostly knee pants, the standard type of pants worn by boys during the 1890s. Knee pants were almost universally worn by American boys in the 1900s. We note boys wearing knee pants suits as well as with blouses during the summer. Virtually all boys wore them, including many teenagers, especially younger teenagers. This varied from family to family. A good example is Harry Lodge about 1908. They were commonly worn by boys of all ages. We also see younger boys wearing bloomer knickers with tunic suits. his was a particularly popular outfit for younger boys throughout the decade. Toward the end of the decade, we see quite a number of boys wearing knickers as knee pants became less stylish. For the most part, however, boys mostly wore knee pants in the 1900s. They were mostly worn with black long stockings, although many boys went brefoot in the summer. This was especially the case in rural areas. Younger boys might wear white stockings or three-quater socks, but long stockings were mostly worn by school-age boys, at least boys by age 7or 8 years of age. Older boys might wear long pants. This varied from family to family. Boys commonly began wearing long pants by age 14-15 years, but we note yonger boys wearing long pants and older boys wearing knee pants. We also note boys in rural areaswearing overalls, but this did not become common until the end of the decade. We are not etirely sure why overalls which appeared in the mid-19th century suddenly became popular for boys in the late-1900s. Children both boys and girls mostly wore long black stockings. Few boys at the time wore long pants.
American boys at the turn-of-the 20th century continued to wear mostly straight-leg knee pants, the standard type of pants worn by boys during the 1890s. Knee pants were almost universally worn by American boys in the 1900s, until the end of the decade. We note boys wearing knee pants suits as well as with blouses during the summer. Virtually all boys wore them, including many teenagers, especially younger teenagers. This varied from family to family. A good example is Harry Lodge about 1908. They were commonly worn by boys of all ages.
We also see younger boys wearing bloomer knickers with tunic suits. his was a particularly popular outfit for younger boys throughout the decade.
Knickers were not a new style for American boys in the 1900s. We see them before the 1900s. They were more common in Britain, but not very common in America until the end of the decade. The vast majority of portaits we have found during the 1900s show boys wearing knee pants and only an occasional boy wearing jknickers. Toward the end of the decade, however, we see suddenly notice quite a number of boys suddenly wearing knickers rather than knee pants. For some reason were becoming less stylish. We are not sure why this fashion change occurred at this time oe why it changed what Anmerican boys wore so quickly. This sudden shift must have beebn cimmented on in fashion magazuines and presumavly lady's magazines, but we have been unable to find any such articles yet. For the most part, however, boys mostly wore knee pants in the 1900s. The change is most observable with older boys, but by the 1910s even younger boys might be seen wearing knickers as well. Younger boys in the 1900s still mostly wore knee pants. We see these changes both in the photographic record and in the mailorder catalogs that were so common at the time.
Children both boys and girls mostly wore long black stockings. Few boys at the time wore long pants. The major exception was when boys went brefoot in the summer. This was especially the case in rural areas. Younger boys might wear white stockings or three-quater socks, but dark motly black long stockings were almost universal aomng school-age boys and girls. Pre-school boys and boys in the early primary years might wear socks, but boys by age 7 or 8 years of age primarily wore long stockings.
Older boys might wear long pants. This varied from family to family. Boys commonly began wearing long pants by age 14-15 years, but we note yonger boys wearing long pants and older boys wearing knee pants.
We also note boys in rural areas wearing overalls, but this did not become common until the end of the decade. We see this fairly clearly in the photographic record. School portaitse an estblished tradition by the 1900s so we have a good deal of photographic evidence. We are not etirely sure why overalls which appeared in the mid-19th century suddenly became popular for boys in the late-1900s. We assume that farmers were wearing overalls before boys suddenly began wearing them to school at the end of the decade.
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