Figure 1.--A French woman's magazine, "Femmes d'Aujourd'hui," in 1956 suggested this wavy style for a younger boy so that he would not look too old for his age.
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Figure 1.--A French woman's magazine, "Femmes d'Aujourd'hui," in 1956 suggested this wavy style for a younger boy so that he would not look too old for his age. |
Even into the early 1950s mothers would take great care with the hair styling for their younger boys. Many mothers during this period, especilly before the late 1950s, wanted for boys to have a juvenile look. A French reader confirms that "Long Hair in the 1950s was not very common
for boys after after 2 years of age." One popular style for younger boys was the choupette which was a relatively short style, but had a curl on top the boy's head. This style appeared before the war and continued to be popular through the early 1950s. It was only worn by boys. Another style was way hair for a slightly older boy, Most school age boys wore relatively short hair in the post-war years. Many schools did not allow boys to wear long hair.
Even into the early 1950s mothers would take great care with the hair styling for their younger boys. By the 1960s, however, fancy hair styles for boys, even younger boys were much less common. Many mothers during this period, especilly before the late 1950s, wanted for boysto have a juvenile look. Tis did not necesariily mean, however, long hair. Some fancy styles had relatively short hair. A French reader confirms that "Long Hair in the 1950s was not very common
for boys after after 2 years of age." One popular style for younger boys was the choupette which was a relatively short style, but had a curl on top the boy's head. This style appeared before the war and continued to be popular through the early 1950s. It was only worn by boys. Another style was way hair for a slightly older boy. Most school age boys wore relatively short hair in the post-war years. Many schools did not allow boys to wear long hair. Most parents also preferred short hair for school-age boys, especially by the 1960s.
French boys have not worn curls as commonly as boys in several other countries,
including America. HBC has noted, however, one curled hair style. A French
reader describes a "coiffure de garçonnet avec une choupette". He reports that it
was was common from the 1930s and early 50s with mothers who wanted to
make a younger boy look nice and he himself wore such hair styles. He indicates
that choupette was a familiar name. It consist as a big curl of hair placed in the the
middle of the head. The vogue was quite common for boys in affluent families and
to make boys look alike "enfants modèles" (model children). Boys might keep a
"bigoudi" or a "barette" in their hair. The word choupette today is only understood
by the older people. Young people in France today don't today know exactly
what it means, but recognize it as something associated with hair styling. The young
boys with these choupettes were commonly dressed in rompers ("barboteuse").
This was a style for pre-school boys, normally up to about 4 or 5 years of age.
Womens magazines provided advise to mothers about boys' hair styles ("coiffure pour garçon"). The description for thechair style above (figure 1) read, "The hairstyle for the child has an undulated (wavy) look, but built-up at the front. The top of the forehead is held in place by some small locks. Each side and the back are also swollen. This style for the boy is slightly girlish so as not to make the child look too old." The French text reads, " La coiffure pour enfant prèsente un mouvement non seulement ondulé,mais gonflé sur le devant, le haut du front restant ombré grâce à quelques petites mèches.. Les côtés et la nuque sont également gonflés. Ce compromis de coiffure masculine est un peu féminisé pour ne pas vieillir l'enfant." [Femmes d'Aujourd'hui July 1956]
Most school age boys wore relatively short hair in the post-war years. Many schools did not allow boys to wear long hair. This was similar to schools in the United States, Briatin, and many other countries. Most parents also preferred short hair for school-age boys, especially by the 1960s.
Womens magazines in France provided advise to mothers about boys' hair styles ("coiffure pour garçon"). The description for the hair style above (figure 1) read, "The hairstyle for the child has an undulated (wavy) look, but built-up at the front. The top of the forehead is held in place by some small locks. Each side and the back are also swollen. This style for the boy is slightly girlish so as not to make the child look too old." The French text reads, " La coiffure pour enfant prèsente un mouvement non seulement ondulé,mais gonflé sur le devant, le haut du front restant ombré grâce à quelques petites mèches.. Les côtés et la nuque sont également gonflés. Ce compromis de coiffure masculine est un peu féminisé pour ne pas vieillir l'enfant." [Femmes d'Aujourd'hui, July 1956] About the French trnslations. A French reader tells us, a sissy look for a boy is a look fillette or " allure fillette " ( slightly pejorative ). A boy effeminated ( un garçonnet a peu efféminisée has negative connotations today. This wss not the case in the 1950s and it was not sen at the time specialy harmful. It mean that the boy was delicate in his attitude and in his traits. This was considered quite normal and many mothers preferred such boys o riugher more agressiv boys.
A French reader writes in 2003, "I have some comments about the attitude of the french mothers with the boys. This magazine " Femmes d'Aujourd'hui July 1956 " advised the
mothers to give a slightly look sissy to her boy so that he would not look too old for his age. It was the same thing concerning the garments during the 1950s. To be considered charming, a boy should have a juvenile look. This juvenile look was seen especially suitablr boys under 8 years old. Also some boys, a bit older could have a juvenil look
until he entered secondary school at 11 years old. Fashion attitudes today in France are very different. This shift in France began in the 1960s. Some new mothers seem to think that it is cute to dress boys like their grandfather. Short cut hair styles are very popular. At present the clothing fashion for teenager is to wears trousers at the mid-calf length. This summer many were wearing Bermuda shorts.
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