Figure 1.--This press photo of a British schooloboy is dated January 3, 1939 as Europe was moving toward World War. It was published in the "Daily Mail" with the following caption, "HE'S is telling THEM just what he thinks of his school. He was invited to do so as a visitor to the Schoolboys' Exhibition at the Horticultural Hall, Westminster. Whatever it is he's writing won't be read until 1948." Notice his kit bag which looks like the gas mask bags London school children were soon to be carrying. Also notice the pin and ink. Schools desks until the mid-50s when ball points appared had ink wells.

Short trousers were introduced for boys in turn of the Century England. I have no definitive historical information on the origin of short pants for boys worn with knee socks leaving the knee bare. They presumably were a natural evolution from kneepants. They seem to have first appeared in England before the turn of the century. I believe that they may have originated with the British Army at tropical postings like India. They were given great popularity by Lord Baden Powell and his nascent Boy Scout Movement. The emensely popular Boy Scout Movement helped to popularize the new shorts, worn with kneesocks rather than the declining kneepants worn with long stockings. They rapidly became popular in England and accross thee channel on the Continent. They were continued to widely worn in England until well after World War II (1939-45). They were commonly worn by English boys through the 1950s, but began to decline in popularity in the 1960s as fewer and younger boys wore short pants suits. The Scouts dropped short pants as part of the school uniform in 1969, although Cubs continued to wear them. By the 1970s they were much less commonly worn, although many schools--especially private preparatory schools and many elementary schools still required them. As shorts declined in popularity as formal dress wear they became increasingly popular as warm weather casual clothing and sports wear.

The 1890s

Short trousers were introduced for boys in turn of the Century England. I have no definitive historical information on the origin of short pants for boys worn with knee socks leaving the knee bare. They presumably were a natural evolution from kneepants. They seem to have first appeared in England before the turn of the century. I believe that they may have originated with the British Army at tropical postings like India.

The 1900s

They were given great popularity by Lord Baden Powell and his nascent Boy Scout Movement. The emensely popular Boy Scout Movement helped to popularize the new shorts, worn with kneesocks rather than the declining kneepants worn with long stockings. They rapidly became popular in England and accross thee channel on the Continent.

The 1910s

Short pants rapidly began replacing kneepants during the 1910s.

The 1920s

Kneepants went out of fashion during the 1910s, but were still seen to some extent in the early 1920s and for especially formal wear. Most British boys wore shot pants, often referred to as knickers. These trends can be seen in period clothing catalogs.

The 1930s

English boys in the 1930s commonly wore short short pants or short trousers as they are referred to in Britain to about age 13. They wre virtually universal. They were worn for schhol, play, and dressing up. We see primarily flannel and to a lesser extent corduroy shorts during the school year. Some boys had cotton shorts for sumnmerwear. The shorts continued to be cut rather long. Some but not all were full cut rather baggy. Many boys did not have large wardrobes. Often there was a pair of shorts worn for best, meaning dress-up occssions and school. This was commonjly the case for working-class boys, but evn middleclass boys had much smaller wardrobes than is the case goday. Some private schools required short pants, but they were aklso commonly worn in state schools where there were no uniforms. Commonly and older pair of the same type of shorts were worn for play. Many boys wore them even longer until 15-16 years of age, but this varied from family to family. Shorts were usually worn with knee socks, although we see some ankle socks or no socks at all often with sandals during the summer. These trends can be seen in period clothing catalogs.

The 1940s

British boys continued wearing short pants during and after World War II (1939-45). A British reader writes, "I came across your essay page on "Short Pants" . I don't know if this is true but I remember my grandfather telling me (during a discussion about my clothes in the 1970s) that during World War II manufacturers were not allowed to make long trousers in boys' sizes and this continued until the end of rationing. He said it was because of the shortage of material. He claimed that the same should be true then to stop my arguing ..... Anyway - this could account for boys stiil wearing shorts in Europe in the 1950's and by then it had become the accepted tradition that boys wore shorts--at least until a certain age." This may well be the case in Britain and other conbatant nations. We have noticed a variety of cryptic references in various history books, but do not yet have details as to the precise nature of war-time rationing.

The 1950s

Short pants were commonly worn by English boys through the 1950s. The styles were little changed from the 1920s. They tended to be long and rather baggy. These trends can be seen in period clothing catalogs.

The 1960s

Short pants began to decline in popularity in the 1960s, especially with older boys. Even fewer younger boys wore them. By the end of the decade, short pants suit had become rare. The Scouts dropped short pants as part of the school uniform in 1969, although Cubs continued to wear them. Styles also changed in the 1960s as the continental stlyed, short cut shorts became increasingly poipular in Britain. These trends can be seen in period clothing catalogs.

The 1970s

Short pants by the 1970s they were much less commonly worn. Increasingly younger boys tended to wear short pants during the 1970s. The styles worn were now the short-cut continental styled shorts, including school shorts. Many schools--especially private preparatory schools and many elementary schools still required them. As shorts declined in popularity as formal dress wear they became increasingly popular as warm weather casual clothing and sports wear. These trends can be seen in period clothing catalogs.

The 1980s

The 1990s

The 2000s

A British reader writes, "Grey school shorts are still worn at some schools as part of required uniforms. Cargo shorts" are quite widely worn by men and boys in recent years. These are probably the most widely worn style alongside football (soccer) shorts. The latter being anything between long baggy shorts giving the appearance of wearing a skirt to shorter less baggy ones. In areas where rugby is popular Rugby shorts are sometimes worn. The most popular being Rugby Union "New Zealand" style which are heavier cotton/drill and usually mid-length on the thigh. Around the areas where Rugby League is popular shorter shiny shorts are worn but possibly because of the length not so often as other styles except when playing matches. It is certainly not uncommon for boys to walk to or from matches in their kit or home from school without changing back into uniform. A few years ago boys would have considered shorts a no no but fashion and a sporty image have popularised them. Interestingly it is not the little kids but older boys who seem to have taken to this. Those into skating remain in cut-offs and baggies."

Created: December 13, 2003
Last updated: 8:31 AM 8/6/2018