19th Century Long Pants Suits: Ages


Figure 1.--This American boy photographed in Norwich, New York in 1887. At the time many boys his age were still wearing kneepants suits. Note the stereoscope with which he was posed. For some reason, however. he is holding a portrait.

The ages of boys wearing long pants suits varied sunstantially over time. In the early 19th century boys began wearing long pants skeleton suits after breaching. At the time mny of their fathers were wering knee breeches. Boys coninued wearing long pants even when skeleton sits began to go out of style in the 1830s. Shortened pants begn to appear for boys in the 1850s. This was for younger boys from stylish families. Most boys continued to wear long pants. Kneepants became increasingly common in the 1860s, but did not become widespread for boys until the 1870s. Most boys by the 1890s wore kneepants or knickers. There were substantial differences among families. We note even older teenagers wearing knerepants in the 1890s. At the same time other boys were wearing long pants suits as younger teenagers. Social class, region, demographics, countries and other factors were all involved here. One observer who grew up in rural America in the late 19th century remembers accompanying their father to Chicago. Both were wearing long pants suits, but they found that fashionable Chicago boys their age and older wore kneepants suits and they felt like country hicks.

Chronology

The ages of boys wearing long pants suits varied sunstantially over time. In the early 19th century boys began wearing long pants skeleton suits after breaching. At the time mny of their fathers were wering knee breeches. Boys coninued wearing long pants even when skeleton sits began to go out of style in the 1830s. Shortened pants begn to appear for boys in the 1850s. This was for younger boys from stylish families. Most boys continued to wear long pants. Kneepants became increasingly common in the 1860s, but did not become widespread for boys until the 1870s. Most boys by the 1890s wore kneepants or knickers.

Families

There were substantial differences among families. This was the case even among similar familes of the same social class. We note boy even older teenagers wearing knee epants in the 1890s. At the same time other boys were wearing long pants suits as younger teenagers.

Demographics

One observer who grew up in rural America in the late 19th century remembers accompanying their father to Chicago. Both were wearing long pants suits, but they found that fashionable Chicago boys their age and older wore kneepants suits and they felt like country hicks.

Other Factors

Social class, region, demographics, countries and other factors were all involved here.

Actual Chromlogical Ages

We have noted boys of all ages wearing long pants suits. Here family portraits are very useful because we can note family conventions at different ages. A good example is a Swiss family in the 1840s. All three boys wear long trousers, but the younger boy wears a tunic rather than a suit jacket.





HBC






Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Main 19th century long pants page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossary] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]




Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site suit pages:
[Knee breeches] [Long pants] [Knee pants] [Knickers] [Short pants]



Created: October 15, 2003
Last edited: 4:17 AM 11/22/2007