Figure 1.--Many American boys wore knee pants, knickers, and even short pants in the early 20th century. Long pants begame standard for American boys after World War II. We see boys of all ages wearing long pants. These striped pants were popular in the 1970s.

Long pants in American towns and cities rapidly replaced knee breeches for boys in the early 19th century, although it took longer for men to make the transition. America at the time had a very rural population. American boys commonly wore long pants through the 1850s. A good example is the Wallis brothers in 1852. Shortened length pants began to appear in the 1850s. Often younger boys after they were breeched wore suits with bloomer knickers. We note knee pants in the 1860s, but long pants were still very common. A good example is C. Stewart, a very young by in 1865. Another example is Ollie Vail,an American boy about 7-8 years old. The average American boy did not begin wearing knee pants, however, until the late-19th century. Only in the 1890s do we see most boys wearing knee pants. By the turn of tghe 20th century it was common to see even older tennagers wearing kneepants or knickers. Catalogs at the time often only offered knee pants for younger boys. Knickers wee very common beginning in the 1910s, but we see more boys wearing long pants in the 1920s and by the 1930s they wee quite cmmon. We begin to see many more long pants offered in the 1930s. After World War II in the 1950s long pants had become very common for American boys. Many boys did not like wearing short pants. Throughout the rest f the 20th century most boys wore long pants. After the 1960s, however, short began to become popular for casual wear, especialy during the summer.

The 18th Century

Boy like men wore knee breeches in the 18th century. Here America may have been somewhat different. Boys on the frontier may have worn lon pants to some extent, similar to their fathers. Also a new style developed for boys, the skeleton suit, in the late 19th century. This was the first dedicated child's style. We have seen skeleton suits with both knee breeches and long pants. Gradually long pants becae common. Skeleton suits appear to have been more common in Europe than merica, but some boys must have wirn thm.

The 19th Century

Long pants in American towns and cities rapidly replaced knee breeches for boys in the early 19th century, although it took longer for men to make the transition. America at the time had a very rural population with much of the population with much of that population have only minimal access to fashion information. Our information on the early 1800s is limited, but as far as we can tell, boys in the 1830s and 30s mostly wore long pants. We are not sure when shortened-length pants for younger boys first appeared, perhaps in the 1840s, but they were not very common. We know much more about the 1850s. American boys still commonly wore long pants through the 1850s. A good example is the Wallis brothers in 1852. Shortened length pants were worn in the 1850s, but they were still not very common. Often younger boys after they were breeched wore suits with bloomer knickers. This would have been only fashionable families, nostly in eastern cities. We note knee pants in the 1860s, but long pants were still very common. A good example is C. Stewart, a very young by in 1865. Another example is Ollie Vail,an American boy about 7-8 years old. An American school portrait in the 1860s show most of the boys wearing long pants. The average American boy did not begin wearing knee pants, however, until the late-19th century. Even in the 1870s and 80s, most boys wore long pants, even in fashionable big cities. We see boys wearing knee pants, but mostly younger boys. Only in the 1890s do we see most boys wearing knee pants. By the turn of the 20th century it was common to see even older tennagers wearing kneepants or knickers, mostly kneepants. Long pants were also worn, but they were much less common. Catalogs at the time often only offered knee pants for younger boys.

The 20th Century

Long pants were worn by American boys throughout the 20th century. The age of boys wearing them and the popularity varied greatly chronollogically. Boys mostly wore knee pants in the 1900s. Older teen agers commonly wore long pants, but virtually all boys and many teenagers wore knee pants. Here soicial class was a factor. Knickers were very common beginning in the 1910s. Most boys wore them, including teenagers, although we see fewer older teenagers wearing them thasn was the case for knee pasnts in the 1900s. We see more boys wearing long pants in the 1920s, although knickers were still very common. Some younger boys wore short pants, but they were not nearly as popular inm America as they werein Europe. Long pants by the 1930s they wee quite cmmon. We begin to see many more long pants offered in the 1930s catalogs. Short pants and knickers were still worn, but we see even very young boys wearing long pants, both for play and dressing up. After World War II in the 1940s, knickers disappeared. Somne boys wore short pants, but during the late 1940s and 50s, most boys wore long pants. Long pants had become very common for allAmerican boys. Looking at school portaits in the 1950s, even the 1st grade boys generally wore long pants. Many boys did not like wearing short pants. Here there were social class variations as well as regionl and demographic factors. Some college boys began wearing Bermuda shorts and this style gradually became populasr for casual wear. Throughout the rest of the 20th century most boys wore long pants. After the 1960s, however, short began to become popular for casual wear, especialy during the summer. Jeans were a factor here. Long pants continued to be very popilar in the 1970s. We notice stripedpants. Athletic summer shorts became popular. The growing populaity of both basketball and soccer were a fctor. Long panbts continued to be dominant in the late 20th century, although shorts as casual wear becme increasingly accepotable.

The 21st Century

Created: 10:33 PM 8/24/2007
Last updated: 5:13 AM 1/21/2010