Short Pants Suits: United States--Social Differences


Figure 1.--This American boy gives every appearance of coming from an affluent family. Not only the short pants suit, but the conservative tie and leather gloves all suggest a conservative well to do family. The image is undated, but HBC believes that it was probably taken in the early 1950s. Click on the image for a more detailed assessment of this image. Image courtesy of the RS collection.

Generally well to do American families, many with English family or social conections, however, did often opt for short pants suits. This English influence continued into the 1960s. Knicker suits were more common in America. They were usually worn with knee length socks pulled up under the knicker pants. Apparently American mothers felt knickers suitable for both summer and winter. Short pants suits were more common among upper middle class and wealthy families. American boys from wealthier families generally wore short pants suits longer. This was due to several reasons. One they went to private schools which might have short pants uniforms. Two they went to parties and other social events where their friends might also still be in shorts. Three many established families had ties to England and were strongly influenced by English fashions which still dictated short pants for boys. Custom varied widely in America. The upper-class look was a solid colored suit, often blavk or dark blue. Younger boys might wear such short opants suits with British looking peaked caps. Such suits were becomin less common by the 1950s, although younger boys still wore them in the early 1960s.

English Influence

Generally well to do American families, many with English family or social conections, however, did often opt for short pants suits. This English influence continued into the 1960s. Knicker suits were more common in America. They were usually worn with knee length socks pulled up under the knicker pants. Apparently American mothers felt knickers suitable for both summer and winter.

Upper Class Style

Short pants suits were more common among upper middle class and wealthy families. American boys from wealthier families generally wore short pants suits longer. This appears to be due to a variery of reasons.

Private schools

One they went to private schools which might have short pants uniforms. Public schools did not requite uniforms, but some Catholic schools, especially after World War II did have simple uniforms. Some of the better private schools did have uniforms. This was especially true of the some of the elite northeastern schools that attempt to copy the traditions of Englisg private and public schools which almost always required uniforms. Most English preparatory schools (schools for boys 8-13 years of age) through the 1970s generally had short pants uniforms. Even some public schools (private schools for boys 13-18 years of age ) had short pants uniforms--especially for the junior boys.

Social circles

Two they went to parties and other social events where their friends were more likely to wear short pants suits. Most boys want to wear what the other boys wear. Thus if there friends are wearing short pants suits as well, the boys had no real objection to wearing them. This would have been different if they had socialized with boys from a broader cross section of American life where only very young boys might wear a short pants suit.

English ties

There were many established families had ties to England and were strongly influenced by English fashions which still dictated short pants for boys. A large part of the monied elite in America dufring the first half of the 20th century were families that could trace there ancestry back to English colonists. Some maintained their family ties. Most continued to look to England for fashion and culture. Upper class American were much more influenced by European fashions than most Americans. England was especially important for mens and boys dress. As short pants were so commonly worn by boys in Britain, this affected the fashions of upper class American boys.

Conservative Style

Custom varied widely in America. The upper-class look was a solid colored suit, often black or dark blue. Younger boys might wear such short pants suits with British looking peaked caps. Such suits were becoming less common by the 1950s, although younger boys still wore them in the early 1960s.

Chronology

Boys wore kneepants suits in the late 19th and early 20th century. Short pants suits were not worn until after World War I (1914-18) in the 1920s. It was a style imported from England. Unlike kneepants, short pants suits were worn with kneesocks. Knicker suits were more common in America, but short pants suits were worn through the early 1960s, especially by boys from affluent families.

Ages

HBC does not have sufficient information at this time to assess the age of affluent American boys that wore short pants suits. We do know that by the early 1960s they were being worn by younger boys up to about 10 years of age. Earlier we believe, however, that boys up to about 12 and 13 wore them, especially if they went to a private school which has a short pants school uniform.







HBC







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Created: November 5, 2001
Last updated: November 5, 2001