Figure 1.This French Canadian boy wears a short pants suit for his First Communion in 1956. Note the beret and long stockings that were still considered proper for formal occasions.

The styles and conventions for wearing short pants have varied greatly from country to country. In some countries quite old boys might wear short pants suits, although often boys began to commonly wear long pants suits by 12-14 years of age. Short pants suits were widely worn in Europe by the 1920s and continued to be popular through the 1950s. They were often worn with kneesocks. Short pants suits began to decline in popularity during the 1960s. Difference have been particularly sharp between Europe and America and latter between Japan and the West. By the 1990s boys around the world were increasingly wear similar styles.

Australia

Australian boys until the 1970s generally wore short pants suits when they dressed up. The styles were primarily based on British styles. Not all boys had suits. Many boys might wear their school uniforms (also mostly short pants) when dressingbup. Boys that did have suits, generally had short pants suits. Boys would normally move on to long pants suits at about age 13-15.

Canada

Boys clothing in Canada until the 1970s varied considerably in the French and English communities. Boys in Quebec often wore French influenced fashions. Boys in English Canada generally wore English styles until after World War II when American styles became more common. Canada's more severe weather has also affected fashions with short pants worn less than in France and England. Even so, short pants suits were more commonly worn in Canada than in the United States until the 1960s when Canadian fashions began to become almost indestinguishable from American fashions.

Figure 2.--English boys after the 1960s less commnonly wore short pants suits. Some schools, however, continued to use grey suits as a school uniform. Most private schools had blazers rather than suits.

England

I have no historical information on the origin of short pants worn with knee socks leaving the knee bare. They appear to have first appeared in England after the turn of the century. They were given great popularity by Lord Baden Powell and the nascent Boy Scout Movement. The original shorts were generally worn quite long, often faling to the middle of the knee. English boys continued to wear long, relatively baggy cut shorts until the 1960s. The continental cut shorter cut became common in the 1970s. At the same time it became less common for older boys to wear shorts. Plain grey suits were especially popular in England and these suits were also adopted by some schools as a school uniform.

France

French boys soon adopted the short pants which appeared in England and by the 1910s were commonly wearing shorts--albeit rather long shorts. Shorts became the dominate fashion for boys in major European countries. The length was similar to the length worn by English boys. By the 1930s, however, shorter lengths had become increasingly common. In many, especially France and Italy, the fashion for increasingly shorter shorts became wide spread. Shorts were commonly worn by European boys, even quite old boys through the 1950s. It was very common for boys' suits to have short pants. This changed in the 1960s and by the end of the decade short pants suits were only seen on younger boys.

Germany

German boys since World War I (1914-18) have commonly worn short pants suits. They did not wear uniforms at school so they had proper suits, not blazers like many British boys. I think the primary style was single breasted suits. Double breasted suits appear less popular than in France or America. The shorts were relatively long in the 1920s, but had become shorter by the 1930s. Not all boys wore short pants suit, but most did. Some boys might havr a pair of longs to wear in the cold winter weather. Quite old boys wore short pants suits. After World War II it was common to see boys as old as 16 or 17 wearing short pants. This appears to be older boys than commonly wore short pants with suits before the War. This was partly due to the strained economic situation of Germans after the War. Many families probably had to delay buying their sons a new suit, so the old short pants suit may have been worn a year or two longer than usual. Short pants suits were still commonly worn in the 1950s, although the age of the boy began to decline by the late 1950s and the suits became less common in the 1960s. Short pants suits for boy went out of style in the 1970s, although some younger boys might still wear them.

Italy

Italian boys began wearing short pants after the turn of the century. Most boys wore shorts by the 1920. The length was fairly long at first, only slightly shorter than kneesocks, but began to become shorter in the 1930s. Quite old boys wore short pant suits in the years before and after World War II. I have little information on Italy. Hopefully a HBC visitor will eventually provide some information.

Japan

Japanese boys seldom wear suits. This is not just a modern development. American and European boys now wear suits much less in the past, although most have a suit or at least a blazer and dress pants for church or formal occassions. This is less common in Japan. The suits worn by Japanese elementary-age boys, however, are generally short pants suits.

Figure 3.--Some New Zealand schools had short pants suits as school uniforms, although after the 1960s boys less common wore short oants suits outside of school.

New Zealand

Suit styles in New Zealand generally follow styles and conventions in England. Beginnining in the 1960s when English boys began to wear shorts less, fashions begin to differ. New Zealand school boys continued wearing shorts, but clothing styles in New Zealand began to be much more casual. Suits were worn less than before World War II. Some boys still had short pants suits, but they were not commonly worn after the 1970s. Many secondary school boys continue to wear short pants school uniforms. Elementary boys, except at Catholic and private schools, do not generlly wear uniforms.

United States

The fashion spread to the United States, especially for boys from affluent families. Well to do Americans had always looked to England, at least for men and boys' fashions much to the chagrin of American boys. Despite the English trends, however, knicker suits were more common in America--especially for older boys. American boys after the First World war did not wear short pants suits as commonly as European boys. For some reason, many American mothers did not ssem to think it was healthy to dress boys in short pants leaving their knees bare during the winter. This did not seem to phase British and European mothers. Boys there, especially in Britain, through the 1960s commonly wore shorts even during the cold winter months. Generally well to do American families, often with English conections, however, did often opt for short pants suits. This English influence continued into the 1960s. Knicker suits were more common in America.

Additional Information

New style: 1920s

Traveling in Europe: The 1960s

British debate: The 1960s

American boy: Eastern and western fashions

Boyhood memories

Created: October 26, 1998
Last edited: August 21, 1999