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Shortalls seem to have been a popular style in the 1960s. We think that they were most popular among afflient families, meaning the prosperous middle class. President Kennedy's son John wore them when he was quite young to about 4 years old or so which of course tended to popularize them. They were, however already popular in the 2950s. On the previous page we see a boy wearing a yellow shortall for a formal summer occassion. While designed as a play garment, adding a white blouse and knee socks turns it into a more formal garment. On the previous page we see a light-colored yellow shortall for younger boys' summerwear in 1967. The unidentified boy looks to be about 3 years old. He wears white shoes. We also see boys wearing saddle shoes with shortalls. A good example here is Gregor James Hoffman of Scarlesdale, New York who looks to be about 4 years old (figure 1). He is all dressed up for Easter and holds his Easter basket (April 1968). He wears a woolen shortall done in a dark plaid. It is worn with an open collar blouse, white ankle socks, and saddle shoes. A HBC reader writes, "How can you tell that his outfit isa shortall and not a two piece outfit? He could be wearing a sleeveless vest with buttons down the front and dark shorts." Definite possibility. Unfortinately we often have to work with images of less than perfevt quality. There is a white spot where a button might be. And he does seem to have his left hand in a pocket. But vests it seems to me had more of a front V cut and if there were white buttons there should be more than one. Our general experience is that wear alone vests tended to be louder (colorful or bright pattern). So we think it is a shortall, but there is no way to be sure.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site casual pages:
[Return to the Main shortall chronology page]
[Return to the Main shortall page]
[Return to the Main casual page]
[Camp shorts]
[Clam diggers]
[Cord shorts]
[Jeans]
[Jump suits]
[Koveralls]
[Lederhosen]
[Pinafore]
[Smocks]
[Soccer shorts]
