Figure 1.--This Canadian family is bundled up for the winter as the photograph was taken in February. The boys here are 9 and 11 years old. Note that both boys wear knickers even though it is 1955. We were not sure why the one boy's knees were so shinny. The HBC reader who submitted this photograph reports that "The shiny patches on BOTH their knees are leather patches. With lots of snow in the winter, I guess my grandmother thought it would help with the cold when they were out plying as well as wear much longer than material alone. Also Harold on the left has rubber boots or some sort of over-shoes on. ".

The climate in Canada has of course affected the clothing to a substantial extent warm coats and sweaters have been worn for much of the year. Canadian boys, howvever, wore the garments worn in England and France during the 19th century. After World War I, American fashions became increasingly common. We have little information on headwear, but suspect that cold weather hats were especially important. Suit in particular were primarily Bristish styles. Knickers were very common in the 1920s and 30s, but by the 1940s long pants became inceasingly important. Boys that wore short pants commonly wore them with kneesocks or even long stockings. Modern Canadian fashions are today little different than American fashions, although the summer clothes are somewhat less common because of the climate.

Headwear

We have some limited information on headwear worn by Canadian boys. Cold weather caps seem especially important and were similar to styles worn in northern states like Maine and Minnesota. We suspect that the styles were very similar to those worn by American boys. Boys from affluent families may have worn British styles as well. We have noted boys wearing British-style peaked school caps. These were also worn in America. Much more common were various styles of flat caps. We note a lot of Canadian boys wearing flat caps in the early-20th century just as innAmerica. We do not know if French Candian boys wore different styles. We have noted some boys wearing berets which we think are mostly French-Canadian boys. Boys as in America and France commonly wore sailor caps and hats. Canada is second after the United States in the popularity of baseball. Most Canadian boys by the late-20th century wear baseball caps similar to their American counterparts. [Alcock]

Coats

Coats are of course an important garment for Canadian children. The climate in Canada has of course affected the clothing to a substantial extent warm coats were needed during the winter. Various styles of coats were worn. Through the 1950s, double breasted styles were common. Boys coats in the 1950s often had fur collars. In America this was fake fur. I assume the same was true in Canada, but can not yet confirm this. One especially popular type od winter coat was the Red River coat which was worn by boys and girls. Canadian readers tell us that the duffle coats were a very important style during the 1970s. Candian boys wore duffle coats throughout the 1960s and 70s, but they have have since declined in popularity. Most Canadian children today have zip-up winter jackets, called ski jackets. [Alcock]

Dresses

Canadian boys like boys in America and Europe wore dresses when they were young during the 19th and early 20th century. We have few specific details on this convention in Canada, but beliece it was little different than the practice in America and Britain. As far as we know the chronology, styles, and ages as well as social class conventions were comparable. We do not know if there were any differences among the French community.

Kilts

There is a substantial Scottish influence in Canada. The Maritime Provinces, especially Nova Scotia have the most obvious Scottish influence, but even French Montreal has significnt Scottish influence. One report indivates that at least some boys in Nova Scotia wore kilts during the 19th century. This appears to have been the case for sone boys whose fathers were soldiers in St. Johns. HBC does not know, however, how common this was, either for soldiers' families or for the population in general. We note stores at the turn of the 20th century were offering essentially the same styles as Ametican stores, including kilt suits, fancy blouses, and Fauntleroy suits.

Fauntleroy Suits

We notice Canadia boys wearing Fauntleroy velvet suits in the late 19th century. As far as we can tell the stles and chronology as well as the conventions involved were very similar to those in the United States. The original inspiration for fancy suits for younger boys was France where Mrs. Burnett lived for a few years. We are unsure if there were differences among the English and French community concerning the styles and wearing of Fauntleroy suits.

Tunics

We note Canadian boys wearing tunic suits in the early 20th century. They seem rather similar to the suits worn in America, commonly with belts. The tunic seemed less popular in Britain at the time. We notice Canadian boys wearing tunic suits done inthe sailor style. One example is a sailor tunic done with polka dot material. But this was unusual. Most were done with more of a nautical look. One image shows Canadian children dressed up, but playing in a park in 1912. The boy wears a white tunic suit. Another unidentified Canadian boy wears a white tunic at about the same time. It is done in the sailor style, but with lace rather than stripped detailing.

Rompers

We have very limited information on rompers. We have noted them being worn in America, England, France, Italy and other coutries. The conventions and time lines for rompers vary in those countries. Rompers in America were a children's garment common in the early 20th century, but evolved into a girls' style. Rompers in France were primarily a boys' garment. We have less information on Canada. We are not sure when they were worn or how common they were.

Figure 2.--This Canadian boys was from Victoria, British Colombia. The portrit is undated, but we would guess was taken about 1905.

Sailor Suits

Canadian boys as in America and Europe also wore sailor suits. We have little information about this fashion specifically related to Canada. We note many of the same styles that were worn in America. A Canadian reader has provided us a photograph of an English Canadian boy wearing a traditionally styled sailor suit in 1928.

Suits

Canadian boys wore English style suits in the 19th century. I'm not sure to what extent French-style suits were worn. Well to do boys, especially from English families, might wear Eton suits and collars. After World War I, American-styled suits have become more common. HBC has noted Norfolk suits in the early 20th century. By the 1930s modern looking single breasted and double breasted suits. I'm not sure how common kneepants suits were in the late 19th century, but Canadian boys do seem to have commonly worn knicker suits through the 1930s. Despite the climate, short pants suits appear to have been more common than in America. Canadian suits ere stongly influenced by British styles. American styles wre alo influential. One factor here were the American mail order catalogs thay circulated widely throughout Canada.

Knitwear

Knitted garments for boys were popular in Canada. The climate is an important factor here. The most popular garments were surely stocking caps and the sweaters. Mittens must have also been commonly worn. We notice Canadian patterns for knitted snow or winter suits in the 1930s. The cold winter weather surely made these garments a very popular outfit for younger Canadian boys. The knitted cap seen here is different than what we have seen in European knitting magazines. The leggingshere seen sone rather like Jodpurs, perhaps so they are especially warm and can fet into boots. The leggings include feet. We are not familair with Cannadian knitting magazines. This image is from Dominion Knitting. We are not sure if it is a Canadian or British publication. Canadians woud also have had access to American knotting magazines. French Canadians appear to have generally used the avilaible English language publications rather than French fashion and knitting magazines.

Sweaters

Sweaters have been popular garments and can be worn for much of the year. They are the most popular knit item worn by Canadian boys. Here we have little chronlogical information. A Candian reader, however, has provided us some information on knit sweaters styles that were popular in Canada during the mid-20th cenury.

Smocks

HBC has wondered just how influential French fashions were in Canada, especially amomh French Canadians. As far as HBC can determine, French Canadian boys never wore smocks at home or at school as was common for French boys. A HBC reader has done some research on the topic. His efforts to search for information on smocks ("tablier") in Canada has only yielded information on girls wearing smocks. He concludes that the French style of school smocks was apparently not imported to Quebec. We note, however, that smocks or perhaps pinafores (the image is indistinct) were being worn at a Montreal orphanage in 1909-10. We see smocks being worn at another Montreal orphanage in 1943.

Shirts

We do not yet have much information about shirts worn by Canadian boys. We would guess that trends would be similar to Britain and america. We do have some information on Eton collars. We would guess that given the climate than flannel shirts were especially popular.

Neckwear

We have very limited infomaion on Canadian boys' neckwear. As far as we can tell it looks quite similar to American trends. We do not yet have sufficent images to assess chronolgical trends or differenes among English and French speaking Canadians.

Pants

We note many Canadian boys wearing knepants in the late-19th century. Knickers were very common in the 1920s and 30s, but by the 1940s long pants became inceasingly important. Her American styles seem more inflential than British styles with many Canadians. He climate may have been an important factor. Knickers were very common in the 1920s and 30s, but by the 1940s long pants became inceasingly important. Pre-teen boys from affluent families often wore short pants. I'm less sure about French-Canadian boys who often came from low-income families. Boys that wore short pants commonly wore them with kneesocks or even long stockings. Modern Canadian fashions are today little different than American fashions, although the summer clothesm especially short pants, are somewhat less common because of the climate.

Leggings

Leggings seem to have been common in Canada. Of course the cold winters must have been a factor here. One Canadian reader in the 1950s remembers them. He writes, "My parents insisted I wear wear long leather leggings in the cold weather when I was a toddler. I remember that they were rather stiff and the padded legs made it difficult for me to run. They were light brown and easier to pull on than the pants to my snow suit." In Canada, leggings were commonly worn over long stockings. A canadian reader tells us that the Red River outfit was widely worn in Canada and leggings were a prominent part of that outfit.

Underwear

Canadian children wore underwear very similar to American children. Here the underwear seems much more similar to American than English or French styles. This seems in part because of the importance of American clothing styles as well as American mailorder catalogs and publications. The underwars styles offered in Eatons and other Canadian catalogs seems vurtually identical to American catalogs, perhaps with a somewhat heavier emphasis on warm Winter underwear

Hosiery

Long stockings were commonly worn in the late 19th century and persisted somewhat longer in Canada than America. They were worn with both short pants and knickers, although kneesocks had become more common by the 1930s. During the winter long stockings and kneesocks were also worn with long pants. Long stockings appear to have been worn with short pants as a dressy outfit more commonly than in America. Boys that wore short pants commonly wore them with kneesocks or even long stockings. Modern Canadian fashions are today little different than American fashions, although the summer clothes are somewhat less common because of the climate.

Pajamas

Canadian pyjamas, which have been required by law to be fireproof since 1987. Cotton flannellette PJ's are most popular with Canadian boys, usually with a hockey print.

Footwear

A Canadian reader informs us, "Even though Canada has a harsh cold winter, it also gets a very hot summer and Canadian boys always go barefoot during the summer months, particularly July and August when school is out. During the 1970s, it was most common to see Canadian boys wearing T-shirts, cut-off jeans with frayed edges just above the knee, with bare feet. They would walk everywhere, play with friends and go around the neighbourhood in bare feet. It is also very popular in Canada for boys to ride their bikes in bare feet. Canadian boys, in the the early 2000s during the summer wear long shorts, which can also be used for swimming, and go barefoot all summer. It is still quite popular for walking around and riding a bike in bare feet during a Canadian summer." [Alcock] The same source also tells us, "Black and red rubber boots have also been extremely popular among Canadian boys, and remain so today. Every Canadian boy has worn a pair of rubber boots, like his British counterpart. They are called Wellington boots. During the 1950s and 1960s, it was considered tough and cool to fold the tops down. The lower they were folded, the more cool a boy was. Rubber boots in the early 2000s remain popular in Canada, more so than in the U.S., however, it is now more common for Canadian boys to wear their rubber boots up at full length. Canadian boys wear rubber boots in the mud and water in the spring, at camps in the summer and generally on rainy days. They also wear lined winter boots during the harsh cold winters. Canadians usually have a blend of the British and American influence, this is evident with the boots and the popularity of going barefoot in the summer." [Alcock] Sandals do not appear to have been very popular. Trends seem similar yo America. We do, however, see a few boys wearing sandals. An example is a Quebec boy in 1959. Canadian boys in the 2000s wear the same popular shoe styles worn in America--running shoes and sport sandals.

Costumes

We do not know a great deal about Canadian costumes yet. We believe that trends were largely influenced by Britain until the turn of the 20th century. Costumes before the 20th century were primarily dressup outfits for portraits or formal parties rather than play outfits. As in America this probably changed after World War I. We then begin to see some American influences about the turn-of the 20th century. We think American mail order catalogs may have been a factor here. We do not at this time have any information on destincly Canadian costumes. We suspect that some boys wanted to dress as Mounties. We also have no information on trends in the French-Canadian community. Hopefully Canadian readers will provide some insights.

Sources

Alcock, James. E-mail, July 24, 2002 and August 6, 2003.

Created: September 18, 1998
Last updated: 8:19 AM 1/13/2010