Figure 1.--Here we see two unidenified American children, we think in ehe 1950s. They look to be about 2-5 years old. The boy wears a rather loud plaid short pants suit. This was not a rare style, but most short poants suits at the time were solid color. And we never see plaid suits like this done wih long pants.

American boys' suits were done in a range of colors and patterns. We see several different colors being used, but notably far more restrained than the wide range of colors used for girl's clothing. Boys suits were done in a limited range of much more muted colors. It is not entirely clear why, Before the Victorian Era we see men and women both wearing bright colored clothing. Even by the early Victorian era black had became important for men. This basic change in color conventions proved to be a permanent change. Women and girls continued wearing a wide color pallet, men and boys did not Men and boys suits were mostly done in muted shares of blue, brown, and grey. Greens shades were not unknown, but much less common, always a very muted green such grayish shades. White suits are seen during summer, almost always or special occasions like First Communions or weddings. We are not entirely sure about black because photography until the late-20th century was mostly black and white. And black and white photography did not discriminate between navy blue and black. Few boys' suits varied very far from these shades. A rare exception was cherry red blazers with black or grey pants. This seems to have appeared in the post-War era (1950s), mostly a style for younger boys. A navy blue blazers with grey pants became a classic for older boys. These seem to be a British influence. In America boys commonly wore navy blue or black suits while grey was more common in Britain. Unfortunately color photography did not became common until late in the century (1970s) and by that time suits for boys were becoming less prevalent the culmination of the trend for casual clothing beginning after World War I (1920s). Boys and men as the modern suit began to evolve (mid-19th century) were done one in both solid (flat) colors. The most common solid color suits were the blue collar buttoning suits done like U.S. Army uniforms. Lapel sack suits were more likely to be done in patterns. The patterns were muted, but there were large patterns including patterns used for the pants. Loud pasterns largely disappeared after the Civil War (1861-65), but muted patterns were fairly standard into the early-20th century. It is striking how common patterned suits were in the lae-19th and early-20th centuries. This included knee pants and knicker suits. Short pants suits did not show significantly until after World War II (1920s). By the 1910s the patterned suits began to become less common. The patterns commonly do no show up in standard studio photography unless the pose is a closeup. We begin to see more solid colored suits (1910s), and after World War I this trend becomes more common (1920s). Patterned short pants suits were still quite common in the 1940s. Beginning in the 1950s solid colored suits become much more common. Despite the American model, the patterned short pants suit on h previous page comes from a Japanese catalog. Patterned suit like this were rare if non-existent by the 1980s in America. Herring bone became a very popular patter, especially for sports jackets.

Colors

American boys' suits were done in a range of colors and patterns. We see several different colors being used, but notably far more restrained than the wide range of colors used for girl's clothing. Boys suits were done in a limited range of much more muted colors. It is not entirely clear why, Before the Victorian Era we see men and women both wearing bright colored clothing. Even by the early Victorian era black had became important for men. This basic change in color conventions proved to be a permanent change. Women and girls continued wearing a wide color pallet, men and boys did not Men and boys suits were mostly done in muted shares of blue, brown, and grey. Greens shades were not unknown, but much less common, always a very muted green such grayish shades. White suits are seen during summer, almost always or special occasions like First Communions or weddings. We are not entirely sure about black because photography until the late-20th century was mostly black and white. And black and white photography did not discriminate between navy blue and black. Few boys' suits varied very far from these shades. A rare exception was cherry red blazers with black or grey pants. This seems to have appeared in the post-War era (1950s), mostly a style for younger boys. A navy blue blazers with grey pants became a classic for older boys. These seem to be a British influence. In America boys commonly wore navy blue or black suits while grey was more common in Britain. Unfortunately color photography did not became common until late in the century (1970s) and by that time suits for boys were becoming less prevalent the culmination of the trend for casual clothing beginning after World War I (1920s). As far as we can tell, the colors of boys suits did not change no mater what the type of pants chosden.

Patterns

Boys and men's suits as the modern suit began to evolve (mid-19th century) were done one in both solid (flat) colors. The most common solid color suits were the blue collar buttoning suits done like U.S. Army uniforms. Lapel sack suits were more likely to be done in patterns. The patterns were muted, but there were large patterns including patterns used for the pants. Loud pasterns largely disappeared after the Civil War (1861-65), but muted patterns were fairly standard into the early-20th century. It is striking how common patterned suits were in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. This included knee pants and knicker suits. Short pants suits did not show significantly until after World War II (1920s). By the 1910s the patterned suits began to become less common. The patterns commonly do no show up in standard studio photography unless the pose is a closeup. We begin to see more solid colored suits (1910s), and after World War I this trend becomes more common (1920s). Patterned short pants suits were still wrn in the 1940s, butdeclining. We tink that English fshion may have been a factor. Private schools in England had uniforms. And no school had paterned suits or even blazrrs. While this impacte a minority of sydens, they syles influenced the syling of school wer sold for the children atending stae schools. Beginning in the 1950s solid colored suits become much more common. Despite the American model on the previous page the patterned short pants suit comes from a Japanese catalog. Patterned suit like this were rare if non-existent by the 1980s in America. Herring bone became a very popular patter, especially for sports jackets. We see far fewer patterned suits being dome as short pants suits. Thiswas no the case for knee pants and knicker suits. We donotbthink it had much to do with the pants. It is just that it asen shortbpoantee becoh npopul hat pebed suits we being worn less. It may alo be that the modreern image of a pternedsui is moreof an adult style. We are not sure about that, but that may well be a factor.

Created: 6:49 PM 1/8/2025
Last updated: 6:49 PM 1/8/2025