Figure 1.--This French boy looks to be wearing bib-front short pants in his primary class during the 1950s. French boys commonly wore sjort pants in the 1950s, especially the early-50s.

We note French boys wearing all kinds of different pants to school. Most were their regular pants and not school uniform pants. The diffeent types of pants have included long pants, knee pants, knickers, short pants, and rompers. Long pants were very common in the 19th century. Various type of shortened-length pants appeared at mid-century. We notice knee pants being worn in the late-19th century and they evolved into short pants after the turn-of-the 20th century. We see different kinds of short pants. Boys commonly wore short pants until after World War II. Frenvch boys also wore knickers. They were less common and often worn by teenagers rather than kickets, at least in the 20th century. Just as long pants were mostly worn to school duting the early-19th century they were also the dominnt ype of pants worn to school in the late-20th century. HBC is not sure what kind of pants boys wore in the early 19th century. Presumably as in other countries, long pants were mostly worn. After mid-century we begin to see various types of shortened-length pants. Both knee pants and knickers were worn. Knickers were also popular. Short pants appeared after the turn-of-the 20th century and after World War I had mostly replaced knickers, except for older boys. Smocks were very common in the late-19th and early-20th century. Younger boys might wrsr bib-front shorts. Some were quite long. So we can often not tell what kind of pants the boy was Wearing unless he was wearing long pants which was not common until the late-1950s. Some teenagers wore knickers, especially during the colder winter months. Younger boys rately wore knickers. Kneesocks were common in the colder months. French boys commonly wore short pants through the 1950s and even the early 60s. Younger boys commonly wore suspender shorts and also bib-front shorts. After World War II (1939-45), shorts became shorter and began to be worn mostly by younger boys. French boys by the 1970s began to wear mostly long pants. The boys that did wear shorts began wearing mostly longer-cut ones. Since the 60s, French boys have modtly worn long pants to school. And we can see in more detail the styling because smocks sharply declined in popularity after the 50s.

Chronology

Our information on French school pants is still limited. We have a still limited French archive. Although the first commercial photographic process was invented in France, we have not been able to find many 19th century photographic process. HBC is not sure what kind of pants boys wore in the early 19th century. Presumably as in other countries, long pants were mostly worn. After mid-century we begin to see various types of shortened-length pants. Both knee pants and knickers were worn. Knee pants became increasingly common. Knickers were also popular. They were often worn with three-quarter socks. I believe they were primarily below-the-knee knickers. Short pants appeared after the turn-of-the 20th century and after World War I had mostly replaced knickers, except for older boys. Smocks were very common in the late-19th and early-20th century. Suspender shorts were popular. This was the general case on the ointinent. Younger boys might wrsr bib-front shorts. School uniforms were not common. We see some boys wearing military styled uniforms in the late-19th and early-20th centuries, usually with long pants. We see some Catholic schools after World war II adopting unifornms with blue cord shorts and white knee socks. Some were quite long. So we can often not tell what kind of pants the boy was Wearing unless he was wearing long pants which was not common until the late-1950s. Some teenagers wore knickers, especially during the colder winter months. Younger boys rately wore knickers. Kneesocks were common in the colder months. French boys commonly wore short pants through the 1950s and even the early 60s. Younger boys commonly wore suspender shorts and also bib-front shorts. After World War II (1939-45), shorts became shorter and began to be worn mostly by younger boys. French boys by the 1970s began to wear mostly long pants. The boys that did wear shorts began wearing mostly longer-cut ones. Since the 60s, French boys have modtly worn long pants to school. And we can see in more detail the styling because smocks sharply declined in popularity after the 50s.

Types

We note French boys wearing all kinds of different pants to school. Most were their regular pants and not school uniform pants. The diffeent types of pants have included long pants, knee pants, knickers, short pants, and rompers. Long pants were very common in the 19th century. Various type of shortened-length pants appeared at mid-century. We notice knee pants being worn in the late-19th century and they evolved into short pants after the turn-of-the 20th century. We see different kinds of short pants. Boys commonly wore short pants until after World War II. Frenvch boys also wore knickers. They were less common and often worn by teenagers rther thn kickets, at least in the 20th century. Just as long pants were mostly worn to school duting the early-19th century they were also the dominnt ype of pants worn to school in the late-20th century.

Smocks

School mocks were very common in the late-19th and early-20th century. This means that we can not see the pants that the boys were wearing, although we can usually tell ehat kind of pants they wrre wearing. The classic schoolboy dress in France is the beret and smocks. Most French schoolboys by the turn of the century were outfitted in smocks, originally back-buttoning smocks. French boys trudging to school with their smocks and school satchels (book bags), as French schools requited extensive home work, is a common image in France. Schools smocks were still commonly worn after World War II, but most schools apparently no longer required them. It seems to have been left to the discretion of the mother. They began to disappear in the 1950s except for girls or younger boys. French visitors to HBC indicate that as older boys they were teased for wearing smocks because French boys began to look on them as girls clothes.

Uniforms

Ages

Material

Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Return to the Main French school uniform garment page]
[Return to the Main country page]
[Return to the Main French pants page]
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers] [Blazer [School sandals]

Navigate the HBC Country School pages
[Main School Uniform Page]
[Australia] [England] [France] [Germany]
[Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Scotland]
[United States]

Navigate the HBC School Section:
[About Us]
[Activities] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Debate] [Economics] [Garment] [Gender] [Hair] [History] [Home trends] [Literary characters]
[School types] [Significance] [Transport and travel [Uniform regulations] [Year level] [Other topics]
[Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]

Created: January 2, 2001
Last updated: 2:36 AM 10/6/2011