Figure 1.--Jams were a popular style for American boys in the 1980s. They were worn in many colors and patterns. I don't think, however, that they were widely worn in other countries. This 1979 photograph was taken in California. One reader is not convinced that these are Jams (becaise of the length of the shorts, but rather a tropical print shorts set.

HBC has noted a style that was popular for a time in the early 1980s. Boys wore shorts and casual shirts in loud patterns. Boys had worn louch patterened shirts before, but not usually shorts in loud patterns. These outfits wwere called "jams". I'm not sure just why they were called jams. A HBC reader recalls them coming in a wide variety of colors and patterns. The style appears to have first appeared in California and spread east. This matching sporty outfit appears to be an outfit that a boy might only wear on holiday or to a beach, but it was actually typical of what you might have seen back then worn anywhere. American boys tended to wear jams and other contemprary shorts with atletic kneesocks, referred to at the time as kneesocks pulled up to the knee. Mostly, the knee socks then had colored rings at the top, but there were also solid white ones.

Origins

Coordinated Jam outfits developed from Jams swimwear. Jams swimwear was developed in the 1960s for the surfer set. They were mostly worn in Hawaii and California. It was in rge 1980s that they became a fashion standard for American boys. Oversized "board shorts" splashed with crazy colors and patterns, Jams came to be seen as "cool" both on and off the beach. More than shorts, less than pants, the name Jams (a registered trademark) caught a wave and became the tag for any wacky print shorts of length. Boys and girls alike began to compete to find the most outrageous patterns, as makers like Op, Gotcha and Jimmy�Z went absolutely nutty with color. Labels still mattered, of course, but with a pair of Jams, anyone could ride out in fashion. A HBC reader reports that these Jams soon came to used as shorts as well as swimwear, displacing the OP cord shorts that had been so popular in the 1980s.

Terminology

HBC was initially not sure why these outfits were called Jams. One HBC reader specukated that "Jams" were short for Jamaica shorts. HBC is not sure about this. Jamaica shorts are mid-thigh length while Bermuda shorts are knee length. Another possibility is that the tropical outfit was named after the tropcal Caribbean island. It fact the inspiration was stangely enough Russian! Jams creator David Rochlen modeled his first colorful baggy swimsuit line after an assortment of exotic Russian pajamas he'd seen in a magazine.

Chronology

HBC has noted matching shorts and shirts sets that were popular for a time in the 1980s. HBC had though that the style appeared in the eraly 1980s. The attached image is dated 1979, but HBC can not cnfrm the accuracybof this date. A HBC reader suggest the late 1980s is more accurate.

Style

Boys wore shorts and casual shirts in loud patterns. A HBC reader recalls them coming in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Boys had worn loud patterened shirts before, but not usually shorts in loud patterns. These outfits were called "Jams".

Region

Jams first appeared in Hawaii and California and spread east. The style does appear to fit in with Califirnia's beach obsessed live style.

Convention

This matching sporty outfit appears to be an outfit that a boy might only wear on holiday or to a beach, but it was actually typical of what you might have seen back then worn anywhere.

Other Clothing

American boys tended to wear jams and other contemprary shorts with atletic kneesocks, referred to at the time as kneesocks pulled up to the knee. Mostly, the knee socks then had colored rings at the top, but there were also solid white ones.

Created: April 8, 2001
Last updated: April 11, 2001