Figure 1.--Knickers were worn in both Europe and America, but were most popular in America where short pants never caught on for older boys. The style of knickers changed over time. Can you determine the decade?.

Fashion can often be used to date historical periods. This is true for both adult and children's fashions. Some fashions are very short term and can easily be used to date an image. Fashions such as pedal pushers, OP shorts, flare trousers, Afro hair styles, are very good indicators of dates. Other fashions such as kilts and sailor suits have proven much more long lasting. Even these fashions can usefully date images because of stylistic differences over time. Also embelishments worn with various styles, such as lace collars, bows, pantalettes, patterened kneesocks, can help date images even when the children photographed are wearing classic styles.

We have loaded some images on this page. Some are easy. Others are more difficult. At any rate, see if you can date the image as to what decade it pertains to. Then click on the image to see if you were correct. (The link will take you to the page where the image is discussed.) Good luck.

Incidentally, if you come accross an image (either one posted here or one you have) that would be interested to post on one of the quiz pages, do let me know.

Figure 2.--Post cards were popular in France picturing children in idealized, often fancy oufits. Can you date this postcard. Post card were also popular in America--but the children pictured were less likely to be dressed in fancy dress clothes.

Figure 3.--American postcards fearuring children often showed them in more odrdinary clothes. Rural scenes showing barefoot boys were common. Can you determine the decade?.

Figure 4.--British schoolboys, even older boys, commonly wore short pants and kneesocks during much of the 20th century. Some schools required shorts as part of school uniforms after it has become less common to wear them. The style of the shorts can often be used to date images. Any idea here?

Figure 5.--Kilts are popular costumes for boys serving as ring bearers or ushers at formal weddings. The kilt styles are classic and haven't changed greatly, but the shoe styles have changed somewhat. Can you date this image? The styke of the mother's dress and hair should help.

Figure 6.--This English grammar school (academically selective secondary school) are still wearing the traditional short pants school uniform which should help date the image. English boys had to take at 11 (called the "11 plus" exam to see if they would go to a grammar school or a secondary modern school. These boys look to be first-year boys and would be about 12 years old.

Figure 7.--This boys plain dress and white stockings should help date the image as should the fact it is a snapshot and not taken in a photographic studio.

Figure 8.--Knickers were standard American boys' wear for two decades. Can you tell which decade in which this Canadian family was photographed.? The fact that the boys wear above-the-knickers make it fairly easy to date--at least if you have seen "The Music Man".

Figure 9.--Scottish children generally dressed in short plants for play during this era. Some mothers, mostly affluent families, had the boys wear kilts both to play in and for dress wear. Can you date this image? The hair styles of the girls should help.

Created: July 19, 1998
Last updated: January 17, 1998