Figure 1.--This snapshot was taken in Italy, probably taken about 1970. Note the long hair styles and casual shirts.

We notice many of the same styles worn throughout Europe also worn by Italian boys. We have not yet developed detailed information on Italian boys clothing, in part because we have realtively few images from Italy as well as little information on Italian fashion. This is a serious shortcoming as Italy is an especially important country concerning European fashion. We note many Italian boys wearing sailor suits in the early 20th century. We are less sure how common Fauntleroy suits were. Knepants were commonly worn by Italian boys of all ages. We are less sure about hosiery trends, but believe that because of the climate that long stockings were less common than in northern Italy. We note Italian children waring school smocks in the early 20th century, but are unsure how common smocks were outside of school. Rompers were worn by younger boys. Sandals appear to have been especially popular. Short pants became common after World War I and were commonly worn by Italian boys through the 1950s. Older boys might wear knickers. Kneesocks and long stockings were not as common in Italy, especially southern Italy, presumably because of the climate. We note Italian boys wearing singlet type undershirts as casual shirts. Long pants began to become more common in the 1960s. Italian bous by the 1970s were commonly wearing jeans. The pan-European fashion trends by the 1980s meany that there were few destinctive styles worn in Italy as elsewhere in Europe.

The 1900s

We note many Italian boys wearing sailor suits in the early 20th century. We are less sure how common Fauntleroy suits were. Knepants were commonly worn by Italian boys of all ages. We are less sure about hosiery trends, but believe that because of the climate that long stockings were less common than in northern Italy.

The 1910s

Rge 1920s

We note Italian children wearing school smocks in the early 20th century. There are manu images available beginning in the 1920s, but we believe that smocks were commonly wore to school before World War I as well. We are unsure how common smocks were outside of school. Short pants became common after World War I and were commonly worn by Italian boys through the 1950s. Older boys might wear knickers. Kneesocks and long stockings were not as common in Italy, especially southern Italy, presumably because of the climate.

The 1930s

Rompers were worn by younger boys, althogh we are unsure when they first appeared. Sandals appear to have been especially popular. School photographs can be a useful indicator of clothing styles. Many boys in primary school wore smocks, but there were no uniforms in secondary schools. We note that boys entering Gynasio (secondary school) mostly wear short pannts. These would have beeb boys about 12 years old. Gynasio is not a good cross section of the Italian population, but rather would have been made up of the more affluent families--mostly middle class families. We note a few boyswearing sailor sits, but not very many. Only a few boys wear kneesocks, but this was presumably seasonal.

The 1940s

We note Italian boys wearing singlet type undershirts as casual shirts. Suspender shorts were worn by many school age boys. Some information is available on Italy during World War II.

The 1950s

The 1960s

Long pants began to become more common in the 1960s, but many boys still wore short pants. The shorts worn tended to be quite long. Some boys still had short pants suits, but this had become less common by the end of the decade as shorts begamne an increasingly casual style. Suspender shorts declined in popularity. Many boys wore shorts with short socks rather than kneesocks. Smocks were still very common for schoolwear. By the end of the decade, many boys were wearing their hair longer. European ecoinomic propsperity meant that by the 1960s, increasing numbers of Italian families had the earnings to dress thaeir children better than ever before. It became increasingly rare, for example, to see barefoot children.

The 1970s

Many mnore styles of casual shorts were worn in the 1970s. Italian boys by the 1970s were commonly wearing jeans, but shorts were still common. Boys wore their hair long.

The 1980s

The pan-European fashion trends by the 1980s meany that there were few destinctive styles worn in Italy as elsewhere in Europe. Younger boys still commonly wore short pants, sometimes with kneesocks. By the end of the decade the longer lenhth shorts ha replaced the shorter cut.

The 1990s

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Created: September 11, 2003
Last updated: February 26, 2004