Figure 1.--. |
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French boys began wearing shortened-length pants, commonly as suits, in the mid-19th century. The suit was a much more common garment in the 19th and early-20th century than is the case today. The suit was the standard garment for men and boys wih some social class and demographic differences. Boys' suits were were done with knee pants or knickers and gradually this became increasingly common. By the late-19th century and were standard for French boys by the end of the century. Shortened length pants were not seasonal wear, but commonly worn by boys in both summer nd winter. The suit jacket along wih knee socks and long stockings helped boys remain warm in cold weather. This continued into the 20th century. French boys commonly began wearing short pants in the 20th century. The transition from knee pants to short pants occurred mostly after World War I. The popularity of the Boy Scout movemnt which adopted shorts as part of the uniform was a factor here. They rapidly replaced the knee pants that boys had been wearing since the mid-19th century. Unlike much of Europe, knickers also continued to be commonly worn, but by mostly older boys. Short pants suits generally had knee-length shorts until the 1930s when shorter cut shorts began to appear for younger boys. Older French boys began wearing the shorter style in the 1940s. A factor may have been the World War II German invasion and occupation. Short-cut shorts were fashionable in the 1950s-70s. At the same time, dress becme increasingly informal, espcially for boy. We see fewer boys wearing suits by the 1960s. By the 1970s we see longer style shorts becoming more popular in France. At the same we see more boys and younger boys wearing long pants, especially when dressing up. Shorts except for the youngest boys became seen increasingly casual summer clothing. Short pant suits were widely worn by French boys in the 1920s and 30s. Most boys wore short pants suits year round, but some boys wore long pants or knickers with thiir suits in the winter. Some suits were sold with both short pants and knickers. We are not sure, but I think it was less common for suits to come with both short and long pants. This seasonality became less pronounced after World War II in the 1950s. Boys in many Europeanb countries wore suits to scchool. This was lesscommon in Belgium, France, and Italy because smocks were commonly worn to school and boys did not usually wear suits under the smocks. Thus suits became dress up wear in these countries in a way that was nor as common in many other countries. Some short pants suits came with a pair of knickers. We are not sure what the conventiuoins were for daily usage. Perhaps seasinality was involved. Short pants suits were made for boys as soon as they were old enough to wear suits. And we see these suits made in sizes up to age 16 years. Their may have been older sizes, but they were not very common. They were common fior younger teens. This varied chronologically. After World War II we begin to see age sized declining, especially in the 1960s. Now we only see short pants suits made for the youngest boys and even they often wear long pants. For a time, short pants suits were almost universals. This was the case through the 1940s. We begin to see fewer short pants suits, but it us not until the 1960s that we begin too see younger teems shifing to long oants suits, especislly the late-60s. We do not yet have much color information. The most common colors sem to have been were beige and gray. Short pants suits came in both single and double breasted styles.The double breasted suits were more popular for older boys and most likeky to be worn with knickers. Many lines of short pants suits were not availavle with long pants for boys younger than 14 years. The knickers would often be reserved for cold weather winter wear. The shiorts varies in length chronologically. They tended to be long during the 1920s and 30s. We see shiort lengtha (1940s-60s, and longer lengths (1970s-80s). We do nnot have much derail on suspension, primstily because it is often not clear in photograghs as the jackets cover the waudtlines. We suspecu it followed trends in stand-alone shirts. We notice the ornamentakl butons on the shorts in the 1920s, but they began to disappears in the 30s.
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French boys began wearing shortened-length pants, commonly as suits, in the mid-19th century. The suit was a much more common garment in the 19th and early-20th century than is the case today. The suit was the standard garment for men and boys wih some social class and demographic differences. Boys' suits were were done with knee pants or knickers and gradually this became increasingly common. By the late-19th century and were standard for French boys by the end of the century. Shortened length pants were not seasonal wear, but commonly worn by boys in both summer nd winter. The suit jacket along wih knee socks and long stockings helped boys remain warm in cold weather. This continued into the 20th century. French boys commonly began wearing short pants in the 20th century. The transition from knee pants to short pants occurred mostly after World War I. The popularity of the Boy Scout movemnt which adopted shorts as part of the uniform was a factor here. The difference being length and the ornamental leg hem buttons. They rapidly replaced the knee pants that boys had been wearing since the mid-19th century. Unlike much of Europe, knickers also continued to be commonly worn, but by mostly older boys. Short pants suits generally had knee-length shorts until the 1930s when shorter cut shorts began to appear for younger boys. And suits contunued to be done with shorts that had the button leg trim. The buttons disappeared on stand alone shorts before disapparing from suit shorts. The buttons seenm to have been conncted with formality and thus need on suit shorts. We see that pattern in other European counbtries as well. Older French boys began wearing the shorter style in the 1940s. A factor may have been the World War II German invasion and occupation. The Germans exploited the French economy. Consumer goods like clothing were shipped to Germany with only minimal payment, creating serious shortages in the French economy. Thus new clothes for growing children became inceasingly difficult to obtain. Thus we see older boys wearing shorts than many were growing out of. Short-cut shorts were fashionable in the 1950s-70s. At the same time, dress becme increasingly informal, espcially for boy. We see fewer boys wearing suits by the 1960s, espoecially among younger teens who began wearing long pants more commonly. By the 1970s we see longer style shorts becoming more popular in France. At the same we see more boys and younger boys wearing long pants, especially when dressing up. Shorts except for the youngest boys became seen increasingly casual summer clothing.
Short pant suits were widely worn by French boys in the 1920s and 30s. Most boys wore short pants suits year round, but some boys wore long pants or knickers with thiir suits in the winter. Some suits were sold with both short pants and knickers. We are not sure, but I think it was less common for suits to come with both short and long pants. This seasonality became less pronounced after World War II in the 1950s. Boys in many Europeanb countries wore suits to scchool. This was lesscommon in Belgium, France, and Italy because smocks were commonly worn to school and boys did not usually wear suits under the smocks. Thus suits became dress up wear in these countries in a way that was nor as common in many other countries. Some short pants suits came with a pair of knickers. We are not sure what the conventiuoins were for daily usage. Perhaps seasonality was involved.
We do not see many French boys wearing matching caps with suits. But the examples we do see are mostly short pabts suits. The principal garments of any suit or the jacket and trousers which of course is true of short psnts suits like knicker and long pants suits. Vests wre an optional suit item. We do not have much information on this. Our initual assessment is that vests were less coimmon with short pants than long pants suits. Here chrnological trends may be nvolved, but age may be the orimary fsctor.
Short pants suits were made for boys as soon as they were old enough to wear suits. And we see these suits made in sizes up to age 16 years. Their may have been older sizes, but they were not very common. They were common fior younger teens. This varied chronologically. After World War II we begin to see age sized declining, especially in the 1960s. Now we only see short pants suits made for the youngest boys and even they often wear long pants. For a time, short pants suits were almost universals. This was the case through the 1940s. We begin to see fewer short pants suits, but it us not until the 1960s that we begin tio see younger teems shifing to lng oants suits, especislly the late-60s. The estimates are based on the sized produced and sold in the stores and are thus an accurte estimate of what boys wore. Actally you would have to add a couple years to the ages because most boys would wear a suit for at least 2 years after it was purchased. Thus a boy bought a short pants suit at age 16 might wear it until about 18 or when he finished secondary schools.
We do not yet have much colo information. The most common colors sem to have been were beige and gray.
Short pants suits came in both single and double breasted styles.The double breasted suits were more popular for older boys and most likeky to be worn with knickers. Many lines of short pants suits were not availavle with long pants for boys younger than 14 years. The knickers would often be reserved for cold weather winter wear. The shiorts varies in length chronologically. They tended to be long during the 1920s and 30s. We see shiort lengtha (1940s-60s, and longer lengths (1970s-80s). We do nnot have much derail on suspension, primstily because it is often not clear in photograghs as the jackets cover the waudtlines. We suspecu it followed trends in stand-alone shirts. We notice the ornamentakl butons on the shorts in the 1920s, but vhey began to disappears in the 30s.
French boys generally wore short pants suits with lace up shoes. The socks depended more on the season than in England with short socks more commn in the summer. Even with kneepants, long styockings were not as common in France as in America. French boys common wore threeqwuarter-length socks. As short pants replaced kneesocks, boys began to wear knee socks instead of three-quarter length socks. Long over-the-knee stockings were not commonly worn with shorts. Ankle socks hecame common in the summer. Kneesocks were generally seen as somewhat more formal than short socks. Thus kneesocks were often worn with a suit, even in the summer.
French boys wore both double and single breasted suits. The double breasted suits were more popular for older boys and most likeky to be worn with knickers.
Travelin g in Europe: 1960s
British debate: 1960s
American Eastand Western fashions: The 1960s
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