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Strait leg knee pants continued to dominate boys school wear into the very early-20th century. And this was not just primary school boys. We see teenagers in secondary schools also wearing knee pants, although this was not universal like primary school. American boys always wore knee pants with long stockings, usually black long stockings, unless the boys were going barefoot. Suits were still very common, meaning knee pants suits. For some reasons beginning about 1908, American boys began wearing knickers. This change was not only virtually universal and very sudden--perhaps the nost sudden change in the history of American boys' fasions. And we have no idea whb it occurred. And it only occured in America and countries oriented toward America like Canada. It did not occur in Europe. The youngest boys might still wear knee pants or short pants, but most boys wore or wanted to wear knickers. At about the same time, we see boys in rural schools commonly wearing overalls. Knickers became virtually universal in the 1910s and only slightly less so in the 1920s. This began to change in the late-1920s and especially the 1930s. We see a mix of pants in the 1930s, including short pants, knickers, and long pants. This varied primarily depebnding on the family. By the end of the 1930s knickers were still worn, but long pants were becoming increasingly common, much more so than in Europe. Knickers were rapidly going out of style in the early-40s. Some younger boys wore short pants, but by the end of the 40s, long pants were becoming standard. And at the same time overalls disappeared in rural areas. In fact, small rural schools disappeared as school districts for bodgetary reasons increasingly consolidated schools and bussed the kids into consolidated town schools. We still see short pants being worn by younger boys in the early-1950s. And there was some regional differences, but boys mostly wore long pants to school in the 1950s and 60s. And at the same time school wear was becoming increasingly casual. Short pants were becoming common for casual wear in the 1970s and we begin to see more boys wearing shorts to school again by the mid-1970s. Athletetic style shorts were popular with tube socks. This was at first most common im the South and California. It was fairly common by the end of the century wehen longer, baggy shorts began to become common.
Strait leg knee pants continued to dominate boys school wear into the very early-20th century. And this was not just primary school boys. We see teenagers in secondary schools also wearing knee pants, although this was not universal like primary school. American boys always wore knee pants with long stockings, usually black long stockings, unless the boys were going barefoot. Suits were still very common, meaning knee pants suits. For some reasons beginning about 1908, American boys began wearing knickers. This change was not only virtually universal and very sudden--perhaps the nost sudden change in the history of American boys' fasions And we have no idea why it occurred. And it only occured in America and countries oriented toward America like Canada. It did not occur in Europe. At about the same time we begin to see overalls becoming common at rural schools.
American boys began wearing shortened-length pants in the 1850s, at first just very young boys. We see some knickers in the 1860s, but we are not sure about schoolwear. School photography was just beginning. We mostly straight-leg knee pants by the 1870s. At first just the younger boys, but by the 1890s we begin to see older boys wearing them. This continued after the turn-of-the 20th century into the 1900s decade. Then at the end of the decade we begin to see knickers. This was gthe first major change in 5 decades. Knickers became virtually universal for American boys in the 1910s, including younger teenagers, but not many of the older teenages as was often seen in the 1900s. Norfolk knickers suits were especially popular. The youngest boys might still wear knee pants or short pants, but most boys wore or wanted to wear knickers instead. This included many teens in secondary schools. While we see some older teens wearing knee pants in the 1900s decade, it was less common for older teens to wear knickers in the 1910s. Most pre-teens wore knickers to school, becoming nearly universal. They were worn with dark, mostly black long stockings as had been the case with knee pants in the 1900s. Through out the decade, we see boys in rural schools commonly wearing overalls. It was virtually universal at some schools, especially for the younger boys. Many of these rural boys depending on the familyb financesd wore knickers when dressing up. But overalls becme very common in rural schools. The primary exception were the boys from poor families that might not have a suit.
We note American boys beginning to wear a variety of pants to school in the 1920s. Knickers were, however, only slightly less common in the 1920s--especially in the early-20s. This began to change, however, in the mid-20s. We begin to see a few more boys wearing short pants and older boys commonly wearing long pants, especially teenagers. Here social class was a factor. Boys from well-to do famolies were more likely to wear short pants. boys from working classs families were more likrlyb to wear long pants. This trend continued into the 1930s. Younger boys had changed from knee pants to short pants. We see more boys wearing socks rather than long stockings. Knee socks were becoming very common. Boys began wearing patterned knee socks with knickers instead of long stockings that were so common for decades. We see that patterned knee socks were already popular by the end of the decade. Long stickings had not disappeared, by had begin to decline in popularity. We continue to see boys in ruralm areas wearing overalls to school. this was only a little less common for the older boys. But most primary-age boys wore knickers to school. The scholl here is a good example (fugure 1). In some rural schools virtually all of the boys are wearing overalls and always the long pants type. This was a practice that had become standard in the 1910s and would contunue until after World War II. This was something not seen in city schools and only to a limited extent in small town schools. And pants for the most part were only for the boys. Girls wore skirts or dresses.
The type pf pants worn by American boys began to change in the late-1920s and especially the 1930s. We see a mix of pants in the 1930s, including short pants, knickers, and long pants. This varied primarily depebnding on the family. By the end of the 1930s knickers were still worn, but long pants were becoming increasingly common, much more so than in Europe.
Family photographs show my briother wearing kicketr in the early-1940s. Knickers were rapidly going out of style in the early-40s. Some younger boys wore short pants, but by the end of the 40s, long pants were becoming standard. I began school in 1949. I don't recall anyone wearing knickers, but at tyhis age I have no idea how accirate my menmories are. And at the same time overalls disappeared in rural areas. In fact, small rural schools disappeared as school districts for bodgetary reasons increasingly consolidated schools and bussed the kids into consolidated town schools.
We still see short pants being worn by younger boys in the early-1950s. And there was some regional differences, but boys mostly wore long pants to school in the 1950s. And school dress was becoming increasingly casual. Some high schools attemopted to maintain higher standards, but it was a klosing battle.
Boys continued wearing mostly long pants to school in the 1960s, both in primary and secondary schools.
Boys clothing was becominjg increasingly casual in the 1970s. And that was reflected in school wear. hort pants were beginning to become common for boys' casual wear in the 1970s and we begin to see some primary-age boys wearing shorts to school again by the mid-1970s. Athletetic style shorts were popular with tube socks. This was at first most common im the South and California.
Short pants became fairly common at American primary schools in the 1980s.
By the end of the 20th century we see longer, baggy shorts begin to become popular uin thev 1990s.
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