Figure 1.--A HBC reader has sent us this portrait from the lobby of the Hotel San Francisco in Chihuahua. The portrait was probably painted in the 1830s. It is indistinguishable from comparable paintings done in Europe and America at the time. European fashions are the influence, but the portrait looks rather American because in Mexivo as in America, few artists in the early 19th century had academic training.

We have very lille chronological information on Mexico at this time. Portraits suggest that children from affluent families in the 19th century were dressed like European children. In fact unlsss the provinance of the image is knnown it is rarely possible to identify portraits of Mexican children from European families by their clothing. The fashions involved followed fashion changes in Europe. Children of families from modest backgrounds are more likely to be identified as Mexican because they wore a kind of camposeino dress of plain white shirts and pants with barefeet or sandals. This style did not change significantly over time. Some boys wore guallaberas, but this was more an adult fashion. Styles began to change in the 20th century, especially after World War II. American fashions became increasingly important.

The 19th Century

We have very lille chronological information on Mexico at this time. Portraits suggest that children from affluent families in the 19th century were dressed like European children. France was very influential in fashions, but I am not positive this influence included boys. In fact, unless the provinance of the image is knnown it is rarely possible to differentiate portraits of Mexican children from European families by their clothing. A good example is the protrait here, a piece of folk art (figure 1). Without knowing that it was Mexican, it could easily be seen as American or European. We would guess that it was painted in the 1830s. The fashions involved followed fashion changes in Europe. Children of families from modest backgrounds are more likely to be identified as Mexican because they wore a kind of camposino dress of plain white shirts and pants with barefeet or sandals. As far as we can tell, this style did not change significantly over time and was worn throughout the 19th century. Mexico in the 19th century was alargely rural country with a relatively small urban population. Many Mexicans lived on large rural estates--haciendas. Some limited industrialization began in the late 19th century. This camposino outfit was presumably the most widely worn boys' clothing.

20th Century

Mexican boys clothing in the early 20th century was still very significantly affected by social class and demographics. Affluent Mexican boys in the city, both the rich and confortable miffle class dressed essentially like European boys. The urban poor dressed variously. We note both the standard white camposuno outfits as well as clohing styles influenced by the more affluent city dwealers. We continue to see Mexican boys wearing in rural areas wearing white camposino outfits in the early 20th century. Meexico in the 1910s was convulsed by Revolution. The rural poor championed by leaders like Villa and Zapata played a major role in the Revolution. The Partido Revolucianio Institucional (PRI) which seized control of Mexico after the Revolution persued a policy of reforms with generally disappointed results, but Mexico was changed and fashion differences between urban and rural areas begin to decline. We still see the white camposino outfits in the 1920s and 30s, but they gradually become less common. We begin to see Mexican children increasingly dress like European children. Middle class boys might sear short pants, but this was less common with working-class urban children and rural children. Afer World War II, American fashions begin to become increasingly common as trade and family connections with the United States expand. Mexico's failure to develop a viable economy and continuing rural and urban poverty are a significant factor affecting clothing and fashion in the country for both adults and children.

Mid 20th Century

A Mexican contributor to HBC reports, "recuerdo que en mi infacia durante los aņos 60, a los niņos nos vestian de pantalones bien cortitos, en trajes o de chaleco o sueter, generalmente en la clase media alta, algunos niņos pasaban inadvertidos a otros no les gustaba. En mexico, era muy comun ver a niņos vistiendo pantalones cortos de echo era un requerimiento obligatorio, no habia forma de decir que no queria usar esa prenda, normalmetne los pantalones cortos se usaban de lana o casimir, e inclusive terciopelo, a las mamas les encantaba ver a los niņos con los pantalones bien cortitos, porque entre mas cortitos usaran los pantalones mas control se ejercia sobre ellos, para traerlos mas aniņados, se usaban camisas blancas de algodon de cuello ancho, y manga corta los pantaloncitos se usaban en colores azul marino, cafe, verde olivo , gris oxford blancos, algunos niņos seguian usando el estilo de marinerito, o trajes sastre el uso del pantalon cortito era desde el nacimiento hasta los 13 aņos, inclusive en esta edad toda via se bromeaba con el niņo diciendo te gustaria seguir usando pantalones cortos, muchos niņos hacian unos berrinches tremendos por no querer usar pantalon cortito, pero aqui en mexico el lema era que solo los adultos tenian ese derecho, ya que existia el dicho es que te vamos a traer bien cortito, simbolizando el pantalon con la conducta.... y de algun modo pareciera ser que los pantalones cortos si manipulaban la conducta del niņo, ya que entre mas cortitos trajera los pantalones mas refinada era el comportamiento....

I am not a linguist, but my rough translation is: I remember when I was young during the 1960s, boys who dressed in short shorts, en suits or jackets and sweaters with longer shorts. Some boys did mind the style while others didn't like it. It was quite common for boys to wear short pants, in fact it was almost a requirement. [I think the contributor is talking about relatively affluent families.] They were often made of wool or cashmere, including velvet. Mothers were enchanted to see their sons in short pants. Not only did they think they looked smarter, but it was a way of showing that there sons were being properly supervised. To dress them more aniņados [I'm not sure what this means], boys were dressed in white cotton shirts with wide collars and short sleeves. The pants were navy blue, brown, olive green, grey, and white. Some mothers liked sailor suits for the younger boys. Boys as old as 13 years might wear short pants, although most boys by that age had graduated to long pants. These boys liked to tease the boys still wearing shorts. In turn they complasined to their parents asking for long pants like the other boys. They were often told that long pants were for adults and shorts for boys as some mothers were quite insistent about shorts. Some mothers used short pants to ensure that their sons were well behaved. Some mothers believed the shorter a boys pants, the better he behaved.

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Created: May 2, 2004
Last updated: 5:25 PM 4/30/2008