Figure 1.--This is PS 165 in Manhattan during June 1934, meaning the end of the chool year. We are not sure if it was a junior high or a high school. The designation is 9b3. The PB meant the second 9th grade class. We are not sure what the superscript 3 meant. The boys are all wearing suits. We are not sure if that was how they normally dresses or if they dressed up for the school portrait. The suits are both knickers and long pants. Put your cursor on the image to see the entire class.

Major changes were observable in American schoolwear during the 1930s. The most observable difference was that schoolwear was becoming more informal. It was becoming much less common for primary-level boys to wear suits and ties to school, although there were some schools where suits were expected. And we still see some boys wearing suits where they were not expected. Suits were worn at private schools or some primary schools in better neighborhoods. They were also still commonly worn secondary schools, especially by the older boys. The youngest boys in primary school might dress in short pants. Most boys wore knickers and by the end of the decade long oants, often with sweaters when the weather turned cool. Usually only the yojunger boys wore shorts although there were some regional differences. There were also social class diiferences. Boys in the South or from well-to-do families were more likely to wear short pants. There were also seasonal differences. One of the most popular style in the 1930s was corduroy knickers. Knickers were the dominant pants at the beginning of the decade, but steadily declined in popularity as the decade progressed. We see more and younger boys weaing long pants. One observable change was that long stockings declined in popularity. Most boys wearing knickers in the 1930s wore them with knee socks, often with loud patterns. Long pants gradually became more common during the 30s, even for younger boys. So we see many primary boys wearing long pants by the end of the decade. Girls continud to wear dresses or skirts with blouses. While we see fewer suits, children were expected to dress properly for school. Neither boys or girls wore jeans which were beginning to become popular as playwear, especially with boys as a result of movie westerns. Girls wear was strongly affected by Shirley Temple who grew up during the decade. America endured the Depression throughout the 1930s. Many children had only three sets of clothing. One for school, another for play, and an outfit for special occasions. The play outfit was commonly the old school outfit. Money was tight and many parents were hard-pressed to buy new clothes. Hand-me-downs were commonly worn. There continued to be substantial differences between school wear in the city and rural areas. Many boys in rural areas and even some girls wore overalls to school. They also often cane to school barefoot in warm weather. This was most common in the South. Poorer children might wear clothes made from feed sacks or cut-down adult clothing. Flat caps were still worn in the early-30s, but quickly declined in popularity. For cold weather children wore wool coats. Headwear included stocking caps or felt caps with earflags and chinstraps--especially in the North. Boys were increasingly wearing sneakers for play. We rarely see boys wearing sandals to school like the ones worn in Europe. They were, however, popular for girls. Children did not commonly wear sneakers to school, although we see some poor children wearing them.

Headwear

Boys wore flat caps were still worn in the early-30s, but quickly declined in popularity. This was partially because headwear in general declined in popularity. Girls might wear tams. Fewer boys and girls were headwear to school The exception here was inclement weather. Children wore rain suits which might include headwear. Headwear was even was even more common in winter. For cold weather children wore wool coats. Headwear included stocking caps or felt caps with earflags and chinstraps--especially in the North.

Suits

Major changes were observable in American schoolwear during the 1930s. The most observable difference was that schoolwear was becoming more informal. It was becoming much less common for primary-level boys to wear suits and ties to school, although there were some schools where suits were expected. Double-brwasted styles were still popular. And we still see some boys wearing suits where they were not expected. Suits were worn at private schools or some primary schools in better neighborhoods. They were also still commonly worn secondary schools, especially by the older boys. But notice the New York City 9th grade junior high school boys here are wearing suits in 1934 (figure 1). We see short pants, knicker, and long pants suits. Short pants wwere the least popular choice for school wear. This is partially becuse most younger boys were no longer wearing suits to school. We see a lot of knicker and long pants suits. Knicker suits were most popular at the beginning of the decade with long pants suits becoming more popular a the decade progressed, especially by the older boys.

Pants

Boys' pants were quite diverse in the 1930s. The youngest boys in primary school might dress in short pants. Most boys wore knickers and by the end of the decade long oants, often with sweaters when the weather turned cool. Usually only the yojunger boys wore shorts although there were some regional differences. There were also social class diiferences. Boys in the South or from well-to-do families were more likely to wear short pants. There were also seasonal differences. One of the most popular style in the 1930s was corduroy knickers. Knickers were the dominant pants at the beginning of the decade, but steadily declined in popularity as the decade progressed. We see more and younger boys weaing long pants. Long pants gradually became more common during the 30s, even for younger boys. So we see many primary boys wearing long pants by the end of the decade. While we see fewer suits, children were expected to dress properly for school. Neither boys or girls wore jeans which were beginning to become popular as playwear, especially with boys as a result of movie westerns. An exception here were rural boys, they did not wear jeans, but they commonly came to school in overalls. Overalls had a bib-front, but were a type od pants.This began in the late-1900s deccade and continued durung the 1930s. Overalls generally disappeared in the early-40s as many rural residents began to get factory jobs in th city -- part of the World War II Arsenal of Democracy. By the end of the War (1945), we no longer see significant differences between the clothing worn by city and rural boys.

Dresses

Girls continud to wear dresses or skirts with blouses. Girls wear was strongly affected by Shirley Temple who grew up during the decade. We see a lot of dresses and blouses with short and long sleeves. Puffed sleeves were mostly for party dresses. We also see bluses and sj=kirts, but dresses seem more commomn fir schoool. . Girls occasionally wore pinafores but middy blouses were more popular. When Shirley Temple wore short dresses in her films they became popular for little girls. Gym clothes were called tunics (sometimes called gym slips), which looked like a loose jumper with a wide bib. American girls began to wear pants and shorts for play, but not for school.

Hosiery

One observable schoolwear change was that long stockings declined in popularity. Most boys wearing knickers in the 1930s wore them with knee socks, often with loud patterns. One author sescribs an argyle sock fad, but argyles were only one pattern. We see some long stockings at the beggining of the decade, especially for the younger girls, but they steadily declined in poularity as the decade progressed. Mostly girls wore knee or ankle socks instead of long stockings.

Footwear

Boys were increasingly wearing sneakers for play. We rarely see boys wearing sandals to school like the ones worn in Europe. Children did not commonly wear sneakers to school, although we see some poor children wearing them. Mary Janes and sandals were popular shoes, although e also see girls wearing sturdy oxfords like the boys. Girls did not wear sneakers. Teenagers, esopecilly girls, wore saddle shoes, but we see sime boys wearing them.

The Deprssion

America endured the Depression throughout the 1930s. Many children had only three sets of clothing. One for school, another for play, and an outfit for special occasions. The play outfit was commonly the old school outfit. Money was tight and many parents were hard-pressed to buy new clothes. Hand-me-downs were commonly worn.

Demographics

There continued to be substantial differences between school wear in the city and rural areas. Many boys in rural areas and even some girls wore overalls to school. They also often cane to school barefoot in warm weather. This was most common in the South. Poorer children might wear clothes made from feed sacks or cut-down adult clothing.

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Created: 3:33 AM 9/24/2012
Last updated: 12:15 AM 11/16/2018