Figure 1.-- This American boy wears a double-breasdted kneepants suit. The impage is undated, but we would guess was taken about 1900. The flowers on the table suggest that it was taken about Easter. Click on the image for a discussiin of the image here.

Men and boys after breeching wore the same style of pants, trousers and related garments for centuries. Boys and men boys in the 18th century wore knee breeches. The first variance began in the late 18th century and especially by the turn of the 19th century when boys began wearing long trousers while their fathers still wore kneebreeches. Boys in the early 19th century mostly wore long pants. Knee-length pants become common in England during the late 1850s and early 1860s. Knee pants by the late 1860s had spread to America, especially among affluent families in the major cities. The knee pants became closer fitting, appearing almost like knee breches in the 1870s. By the 1880s, kneepants were being worn by increasingly older boys. Short pants s were still relatively rare, but knee pants now often bloused up and were closed above the knee. They were usually worn with over the knee stockings, but small boys during the summer might be seen with bare legs. Short pants and knee socks appeared in England before World War I (1914-18) and became common in Europe during the 1920s. At first they were knee length, but gradually became shorter, especially on the Continent. Shorts appeared in America after World War I, but knickers were much more popular with boys. A clothing catalog in 1923 offered knicker suits for boys up to 18 years. Short pants were commonly worn in Europe during the 1930s, but in America knickers were the primary suit pants, except for very small boys. British and European boys continued to wear shorts during the 1940s. In America knickers began to disppear and by the end of the decade were rarely seen. Boys in England and Europe commonly wore short pants suits. It was lest common in America and mostly for younger boys. Shorts were still commonly worn in England and the Continent at the beginning of the 1960s. Dressing in short pants suits generally declined during the decade in both England and Europe. Short pants suits for boys generally went out of fashion in Europe during the 1970s, although some smaller boy although might wear them. English boys often wore short pants, but generally with blazers as part of a school uniform. (A few schools had grey suits as a uniform rather than blazers.) American boys over 7 rarely wore short pants suits. Almost all boys except for the very smallest wore long pants suits. Some boys during the summer might wear blue blacers and chino shorts, usually if accompanying their parents to some social event, but for all but the smallesr--never with knee socks.

The fashions for the pants worn with suits appears to have been roughly:

The 18th Century

Boys and men boys in the 18th century wore knee breeches. The first variance began in the late 18th century and especially by the turn of the 19th century when boys began wearing long trousers while their fathers still wore kneebreeches.

The 19th Century

Boys in the early 19th century mostly wore long pants. Knee-length pants become common in England during the late 1850s and early 1860s. Knee-length pants become common in England during the late 1850s and early 1860s. Knee pants by the late 1860s had spread to America, especially among affluent families in the major cities. A good example here is an English family with the boys wearing suits wth cut-away jackets and bloomer knickers. The knee pants became closer fitting, appearing almost like knee breches. A Lord & Taylor' catalog for 1881 showed various juvenile styles for boys up to 11, but jackets and suits with pants cut off at the knees for boys from 5-12. Longpants suit were available for boys beginning at 10. Often the legs were slped for a close fit below the knee, Knee pants still commonly appeared as trousers cut off at the knees, according to Woman's World in 1888. As the decade progressed, knee pants were increasinly worn by older boys. The fashion magazine The Delineator describes knee pants suits for boys up to 16 years.

The 20th Century

The 1900s

A clothing catalog offers knee pants suits for boys, some with waist sizes up to 28 inches (about 16 years) and others up to 33 inches (18 or 19 years).

The 1910s

Shorts were still relatively rare, but knee pants now often bloused up and were closed above the knee. They were usually worn with over the knee stockings, but small boys during the summer might be seen with bare legs. An American clothing catalog in 1919 offered knicker suits of various styles. Younger styles for boys from 3/5-8/9 and older styles for boys from 8-15 years.

The 1920s

Short pants and knee socks appeared in England before World War I (1914-18) and became common in Europe during the 1920s. At first they were knee length, but gradually became shorter, especially on the Continent. Shorts appeared in America after World War I, but knickers were much more popular with boys. A clothing catalog in 1923 offered knicker suits for boys up to 18 years.

The 1930s

Short pants were commonly worn in Europe, but in America knickers were the primary suit pants, except for very small boys.

The 1940s

British and European boys continued to wear shorts. In America knickers began to disppear and by the end of the decade were rarely seen.

The 1950s

Boys in England and Europe commonly wore short pants suits. It was least common in America and mostlt for younger boys.

The 1960s

Shorts were still commonly worn in England and the Continent at the beginning of the decade. British catalogs, for example offered smartly tailored grey dress shorts, commonly worn fo school, for boys with waists up to 26 1/2 inches and in some cases up to 28 inches which would be about 15 or 16 years. Dressing in short pants suits generally declined during the decade in both England and Europe.

The 1970s

Short pants suits for boys generally went out of fashion in Europe during the decade. Some smaller boy although might wear them. English boys often wore short pants, but generally with blazers as part of a school uniform. (A few schools had grey suits as a uniform rather than blazers.) American boys over 7 rarely wore shor pants suits.

The 1980s

Almost all boys except for the very smallest wore long pants suits. Some boys during the summer might wear blue blacers and chino shorts, usually if accompanying their parents to some social event, but for all but the smallesr--never with knee socks.

The 1990s