Figure 1.--These Japanese boys are going to school. Many Japanese schools did not require uniforms. Many boys wore shorts to school--often jean shorts.
|
Figure 1.--These Japanese boys are going to school. Many Japanese schools did not require uniforms. Many boys wore shorts to school--often jean shorts. |
American boys commonly wore jeans beginning in the 1940s, but at first this was long pants jeans. I do not recall jean shorts in the 1940s. I am not sure when they first appeared, but believe it may have been the late 50s or early 60s. The fitst jean shorts were hemmed jean shorts. A reader writes, "Hemed jean shorts were common when I was a boy in the 1960s. Many stores sold these hemmed jean shorts.
They were available in several colors (blue. light-blue, cream, dark green, and others). A few years after hemmed jean shorts appeared, "cutoffs" became popular. I think this began in the late 60s, but cut-offs were very popular in America during the 1970s. I believe that cuf-offs became even more popular than hemmed shorts, but this is sifficult gto assess. Many American boys would not wear any short pants except "cuf-offs". This continued until cut-offs went out of style in the 1990s.
The first jean shorts were realtively long-leg shorts. The jean shorts worn in the 1990s were usually long baggy ones. Interestingly while British boys did not commonly wear standard long pants jeans, little boys did wear jean shorts. They were also worn in France and Germany as well as other continental countries. These shorts were usually cut quite briefly, shorter than jen shorts in America. The time-line for jean shorts in foreign countries is more complicated. I'm not sure when they appeared, but they were being worn by the 1970s. Jean shorts were especially popular in Japan, although few mother bought regular long pants jeans for their sons. In none of these countries were cut-offs commonly worn.
American boys commonly wore jeans beginning in the 1940s, but at first this was long pants jeans. I do not recall jean shorts in the 1940s. I am not sure when they first appeared, but believe it may have been the late 50s or early 60s. The fitst jean shorts were hemmed jean shorts. A reader writes, "Hemed jean shorts were common when I was a boy in the 1960s. Many stores sold these hemmmed jean shorts."
Jean shorts were available in several colors (blue. light-blue, cream, dark green, and others). This varied somewhat by color. Jean short outside the United States were more commonly made in the standard blue denim.
We notice jean shorts made in both denim as well as cotton-twill. Jean of course refers to the cut of the garment and not to the material used to make them. The two terms are sometimes confused.
A few years after hemmed jean shorts appeared, "cutoffs" became popular. I think this began in the late 60s, but cut-offs were very popular in America during the 1970s. I believe that cuf-offs became even more popular than hemmed shorts, but this is sifficult to assess. Many American boys would not wear any short pants except "cuf-offs". This continued until cut-offs went out of style in the 1990s.
The first jean shorts were realtively long-leg shorts. Shorter versions appeared in the late 1970s and 80s. This varied somwwhat by country. We note particularly short lengths in Japan. The jean shorts worn in the 1990s were usually long baggy ones.
Jean shorts were worn in many different countries other than the United States. They first appeared in the United States where standard jeans first appeared. While basic long pants jeans were fairly standard around the world. There were differences, however, with jean shorts in different countries. Interestingly while British boys did not commonly wear standard long pants jeans, little boys did wear jean shorts. They were also worn in France and Germany as well as other continental countries. These shorts were usually cut quite briefly, shorter than jen shorts in America. The time-line for jean shorts in foreign countries is more complicated. I'm not sure when they appeared, but they were being worn by the 1970s. Jean shorts were especially popular in Japan, although few mother bought regular long pants jeans for their sons. In none of these countries outside the United States were cut-offs commonly worn.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main short pants type page]
[Return to the Main jeans page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Cloth and textiles]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]