Figure 1.--This English boy had his portrait taken with his violin. It was presumably the same suit worn for recitals. The portrait is undated, but probably taken in the late 1910s or early 1920s. Notice how the kneesocks were pulled up over the knickers. |
Boys have worn a variety of knicker suits for music recitals. Boys wearing knicker suits varied greatly by coutry. Almost all Americam boys wore knicker suits in the 1920s, often wearing them above the knees. Younger boys might werar short pants suits, but knickers were much more common. This was a carry over from the 1900-1920 period when almost all boys wore knee pants and knickers--even older high school boys. Knickers were also worn on the Continent by older boys, but by the 1930s less commonly in England. By the 1930s, however, they were mostly worn by grade-school boys. One of the variables over time and between countries have been the stockings worn with the suits.
Boys have worn a variety of knicker suits for music recitals.
Boys wearing knicker suits varied greatly by coutry.
Almost all Americam boys wore knicker suits in the 1920s, often wearing them above the knees. Younger boys might werar short pants suits, but knickers were much more common. This was a carry over from the 1900-1920 period when almost all boys wore knee pants and knickers--even older high school boys.
Knickers were also worn in France and other Continental countries, but mostly by older boys.
Knickers apeear to have been less , but by the 1930s less commonly in England. By the 1930s, however, they were mostly worn by grade-school boys. One of the variables over time and between countries have been the stockings worn with the suits.
Considerable differences among countries were apparent in the stockings worn with knicker suits at recitals.
American boys mostly wore long stockings, both with kneepants and knickers during the eaely 20th century. Kneesocks were less common until the mid-1920s. Younger boys might wear three-quarter length stockings with kneepants in the 1910s. Long stockings were generally worn with knickers, but kneesocks had become much more common by the mid-1920s.
Knee socks became increasingly ccommon in the early 20th century. English boys did not generally wear long stockings with knickers. Rather they pulled their kneesocks up over the bottom of their knickers. This style persisted through the early 1920s. Short pants became more common in the 1920s. The boys that still wore knickers began wearing the style that buckled over the kneesocks.
Long stockings were also not as common in France as in Aamerica. French boys more commonly wore three-quarter length stockings. Kneesocks became much more common in the 1920s.
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main inter-war years instrumental music page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Bibliographies]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Contributions]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Kilts]
[Caps]
[Sailor suits]
[Sailor hats]
[School uniform]
[Scout]