Figure 1.--This boy is being fitted for a new school suit with a miitary-style peaked cap and military style jacket. The illustration was done for a 1926 story. It looks like a smock and beret on the chair, perhaps what he wore to his primary school.

French boys continued to wear school smocks and berets in the early 20th century. Some boys appear to have worn military styled uniforms. I'm not sure if this was a popular style or if it was required by a school. I'm not sure wih this style began, but it generally passed out of fashion during the 1920s. Smocks became somewhat less common after World War I (1914-18). Before the War most boys wore smocks. After the war they were still common, but no longer universal. They were still quite common until after World War II (1939-45) in the the 1950s. Berets also largely disappeared after World war II. Most French boys wore kneepants with three-quarter socks in the early 20yh century. After World War I, short pants became more common. Shorts were commonly worn through the 1960s, but mostly by younger boys by the 1960s. Kneesocks were also common, although by thr 1950s they had become more common in the winter than the summer. French boys by the 1980s were dressing in the American-influemced pan-European style in jeans, sweatshirts, and other casual styles. The following informatiion is available on French schoolwear during the 20th century.

Early 20th Century (1900-18)

French boys continued to wear school smocks and berets in the early 20th century. Some boys appear to have worn military styled uniforms. I'm not sure if this was a popular style or if it was required by a school. I'm not sure wih this style began, but it generally passed out of fashion during the 1920s. Smocks became somewhat less common after World War I (1914-18). Before the War most boys wore smocks. Boys mostly worke kneepants with three-quater length socks. Short pants were introduced in the 1900s and their adoption by the Boy Scoyts helped to popularize them. By the 1910s, short pants had begun to replace kneepants. Boys mostly wore kneesocks with short pants. We also note quite a number of early 20th century images showing French boys in military-styled school uniforms.

Inter-war Years (1919-45)

Smocks were still commonly worn after World War I, but no longer universal. I'm not sure why smocks became less common after World War I. Perhaps the French Government changed regulations. Smocks were once required wear at Frencg schools. I'm not sure when they became optional. Some individual schools, however, may have required them. Even though optional, smocks were still still quite common until after World War II (1939-45) in the the 1950s. Short pants became almost universally worn by French boys in the inter-war period. Most boys wore knee-length shorts, but some younger boys wore shorter cut shorts.

Post-war Years (1945-69)

Berets largely disappeared after World War II. Smocks were still very common in the 1940s and 50s, although less so than before th War. Smocks during the 1960s declined in popularity. After World War I. Short pants which had become widely worn by the 1920s continued to be worn through the 1960s. After World War II, short cut shorts became fashionable, especially by the 1950s. Shorts were vey common in the 1940s and 50s. They were becoming, however, increasinglyseasonl wear. Boy in primary schoolmand the younger biys in secondary school normally wore them. Shorts continued to be worn through the 1960s, but mostly by younger boys by the 1960s. I th early 1960s a few youge boys i seonday schools wore short pant, but by the end of the decade vtually all boys wore long pants t scondary school. Kneesocks were also common, although by the 1950s they had become more common in the winter than the summer. The Paris School Riots in 1968 had a significany impact on schoolwear and clothing in general.

Late 20th Century (1970-2000)

French boys still wore shorts in the 1970s, but mostly younger elementary school boys during the warmer months. Boys in secondary schools no longer commonly wore shorts to school. A few conservative private schools continued to have short pants uniforms, but shorts were replaced by long pants at these schools by the 1980s. The common style worn by boys at primary schools was short cut shorts. Kneesocks were becoming less common and rarely worn by boys, especially during the summer. The one exception here again was private schools with school uniforms which often required white keesocks. French boys by the 1980s were dressing in the American-influenced pan-European style in jeans, sweatshirts, and other casual styles. Some younger boys still wore shorts, often in bright colors. After the mid-1980s, longer shorts became stylish. Sone dressy shorts had cuffs. By the 1990s shorts were only worn as casual clothes during the summer.

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

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Pages
[Return to the Main French chronology school century page]
[Return to the Main French chronology school page]
[Return to the Main French school page]
[Australia] [England] [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 16, 2000
Last updated: March 14, 2002