Figure 1.--We note short pants becoming increasingly common for casual wear. This German boys wears the short-cut shorts popular on the Continent in the 1950s.

Knee pants, short pants, and knickers were seen as a standard style for boys in the first half of the 20th century. This changed in the second half of the 20th century after World War II when short pants became seen as more of a casual, summer style for boys and men. Some boys still wore short pants suits, but this was becoming less common. In fact by the end of the decade, short pants suits were much less common, except for younger boys. We see substantiak differences from country to country. Why the trend in Europe away from the longer baggier shorts styles of the 1950's to the very short, close fitting styles of the late 60s to mid 80s I don't know but it was probably as a result of the steady increase in awareness of clothes as a fashion again and designers working for the likes of Marks & Spencer, British Home Stores, Debenhams; catalogues like Littlewoods, Marshall Wards & Empire turning their attentions to alternative markets and experimenting. As soon as one did something new the others would copy. Not so much as supply and demand rather than this is what you are now being offered. The shorter styles were also very evident in the football kits being worn and with football being so massively popular at the time this obviously had an effect to some degree.

Created: 12:23 AM 8/2/2008
Last updated: 12:23 AM 8/2/2008