Figure 1.--Theis French boy looks to be about 15 years old. He was pgotographed for a postcard, probably in the 1920s. Click on the image for an analysis of this card.

French boys during the inter-war years commonly wore short pants suits. While not universal, it was unusual to yet elementary age boys wearing long pants suits. This basically was a continuation of the the 1910s with boys wearing knee pants suits. The unic suits we see before World War I disappeared and boys were more likely to wear standard lapel suits in he 1920s. Boys made the transition from knee pants to short pants during the 20s. It was not just primary-age boys, but we also see younger secondary school boys also commonly wearing short pants suits. Boys did not usually begin wearing long pants suit until they were 14 or 15 years old or even older, although their were varitins from family to family. . Here there were social class differences. Boys in school were most likely to wear short pants suits. Boys who had begun to work were more likely to wear long pants suits. This was not just the school/work status, but mirrored the social class clevage. Middle-class boys continued on to seconfary school while working-class boys commonly ended their schooling when they completed primary school. At first short pants were very long, little different than knee pants, but without the decorative three buttons at the knee hem. Here there was a difference between many suit pants and stand alone shorts. Suit shorts were more likely to contiunue the convention of the buttons at the knee hem. We still see suit pants wih the decoirative buttons at the knee hem. We are not yet sure, however, just how common that was. Short pants generally replaced knee pants. during the 1920s. The shorts, however, tended to be quite long--often just above knee level. his was only lightly different from the knee pants worn in the 1900s and 10s. The length of the short pants worn with short pants suits was similar to the length worn by English boys in the 1920s, alothough English shorts were less likely to have the knee hem buttons.

Conventions

French boys during the inter-war years commonly wore short pants suits. While not universal, it was unusual to yet elementary age boys wearing long pants suits. This basically was a continuation of the the 1910s with boys wearing knee pants suits.

Fashion Shifts

The tunic suits we see before World War I disappeared and boys were more likely to wear standard lapel suits in he 1920s. Boys made the transition from knee pants to short pants during the 20s.

Ages

It was not just primary-age boys, but we also see younger secondary school boys also commonly wearing short pants suits. Boys did not usually begin wearing long pants suit until they were 14 or 15 years old or even older, although their were varitins from family to family.

Social Class

Here there were social class differences. Boys in school were most likely to wear short pants suits. Boys who had begun to work were more likely to wear long pants suits. This was not just the school/work status, but mirrored the social class clevage. Middle-class boys continued on to secondary school while working-class boys commonly ended their schooling when they completed primary school.

Length

At first short pants were very long, only slightly different than knee pants. Knee pants were originally well blow the knee, but by the 1890s were cut just at the knee, but not above the knee. Short pants were cut above the knee. Not much above the knee, but above the knee. This is what we see in the 1920s. As the decade progressed, they became a little shorter, but not by much. We still see longish -cut shorts at the end of the decade.

Decorative Knee Hem Buttons

One featute of knee pants were the decorative buttons at the knee hem. Almost always there were three buttions. They were an artifact of the buttons cimmonly used to close knee breeches in the 18th century. Here there was a difference between many suit pants and stand alone shorts. Suit shorts were more likely to contiunue the convention of the buttons at the knee hem. We still see suit pants with the decorative buttons at the knee hem. We are not yet sure, however, just how common that was. The boy here has the decorative buttons on his shorts (fuigure 1). We noted future politican Jean Lecanuet wearing a short pants suit in 1928. The shorts a little shorter than knee pants were, but still have the three decortive buttons at the leg hem.

Garments

Jacket

Boys in the 1920s often did not have large wardrobes. Thus in many cases a boys only jacket might be his suit jacket. This was especially the case with working-class boys. Thus boys were likely to wear suits much more commonly than was the case after World War II (1939-45).

Vests

We do not believe vests were commonly worn by French boys.

Pants

Short pants generally replaced knee pants during the 1920s. The shorts, however, tended to be quite long--often just above knee level. his was only lightly different from the knee pants worn in the 1900s and 10s. The length of the short pants worn with short pants suits was similar to the length worn by English boys in the 1920s, although English shorts were less likely to have the knee hem buttons.

Age

While not universal, it was unusual to yet elementary age boys wearing long pants suits. It addition younger secondary school boys also common wore shortpants suits. Boys did not begin wearing long pants suit until they were 13 or 14 years of age and many even older boys wore them.

Length

At first short pants were very long, almost like kneepants, but without the three bittons at the hem. The length of the short pants worn with short pants suits was similar to the length worn by English boys in the 1920s and early 1930s. By the late 1930s, however, shorter styled shorts began to become more common. By the 1940s shorter lengths had become increasingly common. In many, especially France and Italy, the fashion for increasingly shorter shorts became wide spread.

Material

Information not yet developed.

Styles

Information not yet developed.

Hosiery

Boys tended to wear kneesocks with their suits. Some boys, especially during the summer wore short socks. Some even wore white socks. I am not sure how common this was. Except for school unifiorms it might have been primarily younger boys..

National Trends

Many European boys like French boys wore short pants suits during the inter-war era. HBC has, however only begun to collect comparative data.

England

Short pants suits by the 1920s had become the standard for boys' suits. Most elementary age boys wore short pants suits. Suits in fact were much or commonly worn at the time than is the case today. The casual styles worn today were little seen in the 1920s and 30s. Boys wore short pants suits for activities for which the modern boy would not dream of wearing a suit.

Germany

Italy

United States

Some boys wore short panrs suits in the 1920s, although they were generally worn by younger boys or boys from more affluent families, often with English or European connections. Knickers on the other hand were very common in America during the inter-war years--even older boys wore them in the 1920s.

Created: November 25, 2000
Last edited: 2:40 AM 10/15/2018