Long pants were worn by American boys throughout the 20th century. The age of boys wearing them and the popularity varied greatly chronollogically. American 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 than was the case for knee pants in the 1900s. Styles began to diverge from Europe. Knickers were never worn in Europe to te extent they were in America. 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 in America as they were in 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 popular in the 1970s. We notice striped pants. Athletic summer shorts became popular. The growing populaity of both basketball and soccer were a fctor. Long pants continued to be dominant in the late 20th century, although shorts as casual wear becme increasingly acceptable.

The 1900s

American 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.

The 1910s

Knickers were very common beginning in the 1910s. Most boys wore them, including teenagers, although we see fewer older teenagers wearing them than was the case for knee pants in the 1900s. Styles began to diverge from Europe. Knickers were nevcer worn in Europe to the extent they were in America. This is an interesting development because until the 1910s there was a great deal od similarity between AAmerica and Europe when masny stykles coming from Europe.

The 1920s

Pants styles continue to diverge from Europe. 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 in America as they were in Europe.

The 1930s

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.

Figure 1.--Most American boys of all ages were wearing long oants bythe late-1940s, for play school, abd dress occassions. This snapshot is undated, but would have been taken in the late-1940s or early 50s.

The 1940s

Kinickers were still worn in the early-1940s, but rapidly declining in popularity. Quite a few younger boys wore short pants, especially during the smmer. Long pants were, however, the dominant style for American boys, especially teenagers. After World War II in the 1940s, knickers disappeared. War production regiulations may have been a factor, but knickers were declining in popularity even before the War. Some boys wore short pants especially during the early 40s, but during the late-1940s most boys wore long pants. Short pants suits were also declining, but here there was a socil vlass fsctor. Jeans became very popular with younger boys. Here returning service menwere a factor as well as the widely popular Western movies. They may have also recalled having to wear knickers with little enthusiasm when they were boys. The Cubs and Scouts did away with knickers and replaced them with short or long pants. Almost all boys chose long pants. Shorts were woirn at camps, but oyher thn csmp midt Scouts wore long pnts. We begin to see nostalgic pieces in magazines and other places about this change. An example is a piece from of all places, a funeral home. Most American boys of all ages were wearing long pants by the end of the decde for play, school, and dress occassions. There were some social class and regional differences. Boys from the South or nore affluent families were somewhat more likely to wear short pants than most American boys. I began school in 1949 and I do not recall any boy wearing short pants in our Washington, D.C. school--even 1st graders. And we also wore long pants, mostly jeans, even during the summer. You can see school trends in available 1940s school portraits. Virtually all the boys were wearing long pants.

The 1950s

Long pants had become very common for vbirtually all American 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.

The 1960s

By the 1960s, however, short began to become popular for casual wear, especialy during the summer. Jeans were a factor here. They became a major fadhion for teenagers.

The 1970s

Long pants continued to be very popular in the 1970s. We notice striped pants and bell-bottoims. Poluester made a major appearance. Designer jeans became a rage. Athletic summer shorts became popular. The growing populaity of both basketball and soccer were a fctor.

The 1980s

Long pants continued to be dominant in the late 20th century, although shorts as casual wear becme increasingly acceptable.

The 1990s

Created: 5:35 AM 1/21/2010
Last updated: 9:36 PM 7/23/2022