Figure 1.--We notice fewer boys dressing up in short pants suits during the 1960s, especially with kneesocks. Here we see an fashionablly dressed boy weating a doublle breasted short pants suit with kneesocks. It was from a 1969 issue of "Parents Magazine". It appeared in the "Family Fashion" section. We still see dressy short pants outfits in fashion magazines, but they are increasingly less family in actual family snapshots. Here social class was a factor. Dressy short pant seem more common among the genteel, educated class. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

Most boys wore long pants in the 1960s. Some younger boys wore short pants when dressing up, but this had become less common than in earlier decades. This shift was especially notable in Europe. Short pants begin to become more popular in the 1960s, but increasingly as casul clothes. Still some boys did not want to wear them at all. Jeans were commonly worn by Americn boys in the 1950s and begin to become stylish worldwide phenomenon in the 1960s. erences began to merge in the 1960s. Most American boys wore long trousers in the 1960s. Jeans were particularly popular. Younger boys might dress up in short pants suits, but this was becoming less common. Here there were social class differences. At the same time some older boys were beginning to wear short pants as warm-weather casual wear. In Europe boys continued to widely wear short pants, but less commonly during the winter or for dress-up occassions. Here there were differences from country to country and among social classess. German boys might wear Lederhosen, but jeans proved even more popular. We see more European boys wearing long pants. Denim made a huge impact during the 1960s. Denim jeans were widely worn in America during the 1950s, but they became commonly worn by European boys in the 1960s. American boys also commonly wore cotton trill khaki pants. Bright madras prints were popular for Bermuda shorts. Terrylyn worsted rapidly replaced flannel in Britain. Boys in the 1960s increasing wore ankle socks. This was especially the case during the summer, but even during the winter, in part because boys were increasingly wearing long pants. Knee socks were commonly worn by girls in the 1960s, but were much less common for boys. Tights began to be worn by German boys and girls, repacing l;ong stockings.

Pants Types

Most boys wore long pants in the 1960s. Some younger boys wore short pants when dressing up, but this had become less common than in earlier decades. This shift was especially notable in Europe. Short pants begin to become more popular in the 1960s, but increasingly as casul clothes. Still some boys did not want to wear them at all. Jeans were commonly worn by Americn boys in the 1950s and begin to become stylish worldwide phenomenon in the 1960s.

Countries

Boys in Europe and American still wore many destinctive styles, but these differences began to merge in the 1960s. Most American boys wore long trousers in the 1960s. Jeans were particularly popular. Younger boys might dress up in short pants suits, but this was becoming less common. Here there were social class differences. At the same time some older boys were beginning to wear short pants as warm-weather casual wear. Some stkles like shortalls became popular for younger boys. Clam diggers were a bruef fad. In Europe boys continued to widely wear short pants, but less commonly during the winter or for dress-up occassions. Here there were differences from country to country and among social classess. German boys might wear Lederhosen, but jeans proved even more popular. We see more European boys wearing long pants. Jeans became very popular. They were worn by boys as play wear. Many parents did not like them, but boys did and they were very practical. Communist authorities behind the Iron Curtain attempted to discourage them. Teenagers by the end of the decade wanted to wear them all the time.

Age

Length

Material

Denim made a huge impact during the 1960s. Denim jeans were widely worn in America during the 1950s, but they became commonly worn by European boys in the 1960s. American boys also commonly wore cotton trill khaki pants. Bright madras prints were popular for Bermuda shorts. Terrylyn worsted rapidly replaced flannel in Britain.

Color

A British reader writes, "As far as I remember our playshorts were always of a pretty dull colour - whether cords, cotton or whatever. I am talking of older boys here - my little brother had a bright blue and yellow shorts and shirt set for holidays with boats and fishes on and so on - but that was when he was only about 6 years old (1968). We older boys always wore khaki/brown/pale green,blue etc. - as well as school shorts given over to play in which were obviously grey. However in the late 60s much brighter colour shorts were being sold (mainly on the markets and I think imported) and some older boys wore them. These could be bright orange/red/green/yellow or whatever (and often came with matching or coordinated shirts). By the 1970s these brighter colours were also being sold in the chain stores - so I think that that was a major change (children's fashions following the "flower power" adult ones). Anyway I could tell you more later if you want as I vividly remeber the only time me and my two brothers were all dresssed alike (other than at school) when my Mum for once bought our clothes at the market on a whim and to get a "bargain" - and in that case she was seen as a sort of trend-setter around our way!"

Gender

Hosiery

Boys in the 1960s increasing wore ankle socks. This was especially the case during the summer, but even during the winter, in part because boys were increasingly wearing long pants. Knee socks were commonly worn by girls in the 1960s, but were much less common for boys. Here there were substantial differences amobg countries. Few American boys wore kneesocks, except for yonger boys. American boys no longer wore kneesocks casually, but some boys still wore them with short pants suits. Short pants worn with kneesocks were seen as stylish. We begin to see knee-length tube socks with colored bnds by the laste 60s. Kneesocks were more common in Europe, especially Britain. We see German boys wearing them. Thy were even more common in Britain, often for school wear. Cubs also wore them. Some French boys sore them, usually during the winter. Long stoickings disappeared in Western Europe, but were still worn in Wastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Tights began to be worn by German boys and girls, repacing long stockings. Tights might be worn with shjort pants, but were often worn with long pants.