Figure 1.--Many British schools after World War II has short pants uniforms. Prep schools had formal uniforms with caps and blazers. State primary schools varied as to wether they had uniforms. The ones that adopted uniforms had more basic ones. Secondary schools generally required unifirms.

Some information is available on the trousers and pants worn as part of school uniforms or at least commonly worn to school. While the basic types are common in most countries. Styles and popularity have varied over time from country to country. American boys did not usually wear uniforms, but lnee pants knickers were very common in the early 20th centuty. After World war II, long pants were more common. English boys commonly wore knee pants or short pants during the first half of the 20th centurt, but long pants began to become more common in the the 1960s. French boys commonly wore snocks to school, commonly with knee pants or short pants. By the 1960s long pants began to be mpre common. German children did not commonly wear svhool uniforms. Most boys in the early and mid 20th century wore knee pants or short pans. Older boys might wear knickers. Some boys wire Lederhosen. More boys began to wear long pants n the 1960s, especially in the winter. Hungarian boys through the first half of the 20th century appear to have worn kneepants and short pants to school. Italian boys commonly wore smocks to school. Knee pants and short pants were common. Older boys might wear knickers. You negin to see more long pnts in the 1960s.

America

American boys did not usually wear uniforms, but lnee pants knickers were very common in the early 20th centuty. After World war II, long pants were more common.

England

Trouser styles in England have changed significantly over time. Many boys wore knickers in the late 19th century. Short trousers began to appear after the turn of the 20th century. Senior boys wore long grey or black trousers. Most elementary boys and some secondary schoolboys (at least in the first two years) wore short grey trousers. These were worn both in the summer and winter term, with no seasonal change. Apparently the English until the 1960s did not think it unusual to send boys off to school in short pants in the middle of the winter. Private schools in the 1970s began intoducing summer and winter uniforms. A few private schools kept even older boys in shorts. Various materials were used, including flannel, rayon-nylon, and terylene worsted. Flannel was especially common un the early 20th century. Some schools adopted cotton corduory, usually in grey but sometimes blue or brown. A few schools even adopted cord jackets to wear with the cord shorts. Cord shorts, however, were generally considered a less dressy style. Terrelyn worsted became common in the 1970s. School shorts were usually made without bacl pockets, I'm not sure about longs.

France

French boys commonly wore snocks to school, commonly with knee pants or short pants. By the 1960s long pants began to be mpre common.

Germany

German children did not commonly wear svhool uniforms. Most boys in the early and mid 20th century wore knee pants or short pans. Older boys might wear knickers. Some boys wire Lederhosen. More boys began to wear long pants n the 1960s, especially in the winter.

Hungary

Hungarian boys through the first half of the 20th century appear to have worn kneepants and short pants to school. A film set in that period shows most of the boys wearing shorts. Older boys may have worn knickers as was common in many European countries in the inter-War period. By the 1960s long pants had become more common, but some boys still wore shorts. In the class pictured in the 1969 film almost all the boys wear long pants, mostly black pants. They do not appear to be jeans. Only a few boys wear shorts.

Italy

Italian boys commonly wore smocks to school. Knee pants and short pants were common. Older boys might wear knickers. You negin to see more long pnts in the 1960s.

Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits] [Jacket and trousers] [Blazer] [School sandals]

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Created: 6:45 AM 11/15/2007
Last updated: 6:45 AM 11/15/2007