Figure 1.--This cabinet card shows three unidentified siblings. The portrait was taken by M. E. Curtis of the University Art Gallery in Syracuse, New York. The boy looks to be about 10-years old, the girls about 13-15 years old. The mount has gilt edges and gilt lettering. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken about 1880. Note that his two older sisters are wearing identical jacketed dresses.

Boys commonly wore long pants during the early- and mid-19th century. Only at the end of the 18th century did some boys begin wearing long pants as part of skeleton suits. This was the first dedicated children's outfit. At first long pants were first worn by boys rather than men, but gradually as the 19th century progressed became standard for both boys and men. This continued until the mid-19th century when some younger boys began wearing types of shortened-length pants, both bloomer knickers and knee pants. We use the term knee pants, but at first they were worn well below the knee, commonly at calf level. Most boys in the 19th wore long pants. This was especially true in rural asreas which were less affected by fashion trends. Only by the 1890s did knee pants became standard for boys. Even many older boys wore them. After the turn of the 20th century in the 1900s, knee pants continued to be common for boys. This very rapidly changed. American boys began weaing knickers and European boys short pants. Even during the period that knee pants were popular, some boys wore long pants. American boys mostly wore knickers in the 1910s. Long pants increased in popularity during the 1930s in America and rapidly replaced knickers in the 1940s. Some younger boys wore short pants suits in the 50s, but long pants suits were more common. Shorts began to be seen as casual wear. At the same time we begin to see a continued trend toward informality and fewer boys wearing suits.

The 18th Century

We do not have a lot of information on the 18th century. Only a small proportion of Americans lived in cities ewhere suits would have been common. The suits worn during the 18th century were worn with knee breeches by both boys and men. The skeleton suit appeared in the 18th century and was worn with boith knee breeches and long pants. It was a style more common in Europe than America, but would have been worn by some boys in the major cities. Only at the end of the 18th century did some boys begin wearing long pants as part of skeleton suits. We do nit think it was very common.

The 19th Century

American boys commonly wore long pants during the early- and mid-19th century. Long pants skeleton suits were the first dedicated children's outfit. At first long pants were first worn by boys rather than men. We alsobsee boys wearing long pants with tunics. Trends are difficult to follow in the early 19th century before photograph was developed. Gradually as the 19th century progressed became standard for both boys and men. The suit also became the sandard male outfit. This continued until the mid-19th century when some younger boys began wearing types of shortened-length pants, both bloomer knickers and knee pants. We use the term knee pants, but at first they were worn well below the knee, commonly at calf level. Most boys in the 19th century wore long pants. This is clealy observeable when photography began to produce substantial numbers of images for the first time (1840s). This was especially true in rural areas which were less affected by fashion trends. Through the 1870s, long pants suits were very common. Gradually we see shortenened-length pants increasing in popularity for younger boys. Knee pants increased in popularity during the 2880s, but long psants suits were the most common. Only by the 1890s, however, did knee pants suits became standard for boys. Even many older boys began wearing them. Social class was a factor here. Boys who left school and began working were more likely to wear long pants suits thasn boys still in school.

The 20th Century

After the turn of the 20th century in the 1900s, knee pants continued to be common for boys. This very rapidly changed. American boys began weaing knickers and European boys short pants. Even during the period that knee pants were popular, some boys wore long pants. And beginning in the 1910swe see more older boys wearing long pants. American boys mostly wore knickers in the 1910s. Long pants increased in popularity during the 1930s at the same time that fewer boys were wearing suits to school. . Knkckers began to be wiorn by primary-school boys. Long pants suits in America and rapidly replaced knickers in the 1940s. Some younger boys wore short pants suits in the 50s, but long pants suits were much more common. Shorts by the 1960s began to be seen as casual wear. At the same time we begin to see a continued trend toward informality and fewer boys wearing suits. Some very young boys wore shoirt pants suits in the 1970s, but most boys wore long pants suits, albeit suits were bein wiorn much less than previously. .

The 21st Century

Created: 11:45 PM 7/29/2009
Last updated: 12:46 AM 2/19/2010