Figure 1.--Here we have a wonderful view of the 1940s. Two of the three boys (ages approximately 8-10 years) are wearing the clip-on type suspenders with long trousers. One boy is wearing corduroy long trousers, probably brown, while the other one is wearing worsted trousers with quite wide cuffs (another style of the late-1930s and 40s). Notice how wide the trousers have become. Notice also the neckties, which are also rather wide and, in one case, fairly short. The youngest boy wears a kind of sailor suit, apparently a one-piece garment, but again with long pants. The belt of the sailor suit appears to be merely ornamental and is not necessary for support, but probably hides buton-on support. The hats are interesting as well. The youngest boy wears a military-style sailor cap with a white crown and black bill, while the slightly older boy wears a fedora. We note boys wearing aduly\t sdtyle hats like this during the 1930s-50s whrn dressing up. The size tells us it was not his dad's gast, but purchased for him. The brim is turned up all round. The oldest boy is wearing a tie clip to hold his necktie in place. Notice also his two-toned, sporty shoes, white and brown--a child's version of what adult men sometimes wore for golf. The setting near train tracks as well as their clothing suggests that these boys are middle-class and do not come from especially affluent families.

We note two basic types of suspenders. There is the traditional type of elastic suspenders with leather button-hole ends for attachment to the inner waistband of his trousers. These were very substantial suspenders worn by men and boys. There is also the clip on typevof suspenders. These had metal clasps that could be clipped on the waistband of the trousers. They were less substantial than the traditional suspenders, but worked fine for younger boys. Many boys during the 1930s wore clip-on suspenders that were easier to attach and detach and that didn't require separate buttons sewn onto the trousers. These were especially popular for boys. Apparently buttons began disappearing on boys' pants before men's pants. A Sears ad of 1939 shows the popularity of clip-on suspenders for boys which (because of their elastic construction) were featured on the same page as the ads for garter waists. We note that Sears in 1938 offered both types for older boys, but only clips-ons for younger boys. We continue to see clip on suspenders through the 1950s, but they became much less popular in the 1960s.

Traditional Suspenders

There is the traditional type of elastic suspenders with leather button-hole ends for attachment to the inner waistband of his trousers. These were very substantial suspenders worn by men and boys. These suspenders during the 19th century and early-20th century. It is rather difficult to assess these suspenders because they are commonly covered by the jackets boys and men commonly wore in the 19th centuyry. Thus the photographic record which was primarily formal studio portraits is not much help. By the 20th century, especially after World war I, most boys were wearing belts. We see some teenagers and men wearing suspenders in the late-20th century, primarily as a fashion statement.

Clip-on Suspenders

We also note the clip-on type of suspenders. These had metal clasps that could be clipped on the waistband of the trousers. They were less substantial than the traditional suspenders, but worked fine for younger boys. Many boys during the 1930s wore clip-on suspenders that were easier to attach and detach and that didn't require separate buttons sewn onto the trousers. These were especially popular for boys. Apparently buttons began disappearing on boys' pants before men's pants. A Sears ad of 1939 shows the popularity of clip-on suspenders for boys which (because of their elastic construction) were featured on the same page as the ads for garter waists. We note that Sears in 1938 offered both types for oilder boys, but only clips-ons for younger boys. We continue to see clip on suspenders through the 1950s. The photographic record shows quite a number of younger boys wearing them in the 1940s and 50s. I recall wearing them as a boy in the early-50s, but did not like them. They became much less popular in the 1960s. Clip-on suspenders were practical because they required no buttons to be sewn into the waistbands of trousers, whether long or short. We see teenagers wearing clop on suspenders in the 1980s. It appears to have been a fashiion statement. Perhaps it was related to the Skinheads in England or the fact that some famous people were wearing them. A reader writes in 2011. "Clip-on suspenders may be making something of a come-back. We are beginning to see them worn with blue jeans and tee shirts on several campuses in the mid-west. I suspect that the style comes from the west coast, probably California." We wonder if the increasing problem of obesity is related. The elasticized clip-on suspenders were popular for two reasons--(1) they were sporty and similar to the adult suspenders worn by many fathers and (2) suspenders were a convenient means of keeping up boys' trousers as opposed to belts. Belts could slip down over boys' slender hips, thus allowing trousers to sag, whereas elastic suspenders avoided this problem. Even so, the trousers are quite long and seem to touch the boys' shoes. We are not sure about the social class conventions.

Created: 3:59 AM 6/9/2008
Last updated: 9:34 PM 1/6/2011