Figure 1.--Knickers, especially cord knickers, were a major schoolwear item in America during the 1910-30s. Here we see an unidentified Amewrican boy waiting for the school bus, probanly in the early-30s.

Knickers appeared in England after the mid-19th century. They were soon adopted for school-wear at many prestigious English private schools, but were less common in state schools The English state schools was mostly primary schools until after World War II (1940s), by which time knicker were going out of style. Many English boys in the late 19th century and American boys in the early-20th century wore wore knickers to school. Knickers did not become popular in America until the 1910s, especially after World War I (1914-18). They were very widely worn by American schoolboys, more than in any other country. Knickers were virtually universal in America (1920s-30s)..They were commonly worn by the American boys (into the late-1930s), but rapidly declined in popularity (early 1940s). They were not for the most part worn as part of a school uniform, except at a few private schools. Few American schools had uniforms, it is just that knickers were commonly worn by American boys. They were less common in England. While wee see English school boys wearing them (19th century), was less common (20th century). One London school continued to have a knicker uniform into the 1990s. They were also worn by boys in Europe--usually the older boys. Knickers passed from the fashion seen after World War II. One school in London, however, still uses them as part of the school uniform. The pattern in Europe was for boys to wear short pants, but we see some boys switching to knickers in their teens. Knickers were, however not as common as short or long pants. This seems common throughout Europe, especially Western Europe. This was no primarily for school wear, but just the general fashion for boys. This varied widely from family to family.

Chronology

Knickers appeared in England after the mid-19th century. There was some semblance to early pants (17th century), but the knickers appearing in British schools (late-19th century) seem a temporary creation. This was the only time we see many schools adopting knickers as a school uniform. We see both knee pants and knickers in Europe (late-19th century). After the turn-of-the 20th century (especially by the 1910s, European boys wore mostly short or long pants to school. Knickers became very popular in America (1910s)--almost universal. They were, however, rarely worn as a school uniforms. American children in state public schools did not wear uniforms. Only a few private schools had uniforms. And a few of them did adopt knicker uniforms. The exception here was military schools, all of which had military, mostly army uniforms. We do not know of any that had knicker uniforms, but some had knee pants uniforms in the late-19th and early-20th century. We see some boys wearing knickers to school in Europe, but not as a uniform, it was just the pants that they normally wore. This was for the most part not usually at primary schools, but boys in their teens that had advanced to secondarily schools.

Countries

Knickers were soon adopted for school-wear at many prestigious English private schools, but were less common in state schools The English state schools was mostly primary schools until after World War II (1940s), by which time knicker were going out of style. Many English boys in the late 19th century and American boys in the early-20th century wore wore knickers to school. Knickers did not become popular in America until the 1910s, especially after World War I (1914-18). They were very widely worn by American schoolboys, more than in any other country. Knickers were virtually universal in America (1920s-30s)..They were commonly worn by the American boys (into the late-1930s), but rapidly declined in popularity (early 1940s). They were not for the most part worn as part of a school uniform, except at a few private schools. Few American schools had uniforms, it is just that knickers were commonly worn by American boys. They were less common in England. While wee see English school boys wearing them (19th century), was less common (20th century). One London school continued to have a knicker uniform into the 1990s. The boys had a choice of knickers or short pants. nickers were also worn by boys in Europe--usually the older boys. Knickers passed from the fashion seen after World War II. One school in London, however, still uses them as part of the school uniform. The pattern in Europe was for boys to wear short pants, but we see some boys switching to knickers in their teens. Knickers were, however not as common as short or long pants. This seems common throughout Europe, especially Western Europe. This was no primarily for school wear, but just the general fashion for boys. This varied widely from family to family.

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Created: 8:42 PM 8/13/2009
Last updated: 2:40 AM 7/3/2026