Figure 1.--This American boy looks to be wearing khaki camp shorts with a camp T-shirt. Khaki was a popular color for camp. He looks to be photographed on the family car. Perhaps he was on the way to or returning from camp. The snapshot is undated, but the car suggests the late 1960s.

Camp shorts were a casual style of short pants. Camp shorts were so named because they were a handy style to wear at camp. The large pockets provide ample space for a boy to squirle away rocks, leaves, and even a spare frog he might come across. This was one factor in their popularity with boys. They were worn at camp, but boys at camp wore a wide variety of pants, both short and long pants. Although named for camp wear, more often they were simply summer playwear at home. We also notice boys in the 1970s and 80s wearing them to school. While primariy considered a style of play or casual shorts, we have notice some mothers using them with a white shirt for church/sunday school ot other moderately formal event.

Created: 11:26 PM 5/15/2006
Last updated: 11:27 PM 5/15/2006