Figure 1.--Boys in the 1920s sometimes wore longstockings with short pants suits. This was especially common for formal occasions. This photograph could have been taken ain the late-1910s, but as short pants suits were still not common at the time, utvwas probably taken avout 1920. Long stockings became increadingly less common by after the early 1920s.

Some American boys wore short pants suits for First Communion. In America the knicker suits were much more common than was the case in Europe The short pants suit were often white suits worn with white kneesocks. The white short pants suits appear to have been more common than white knicker suits. More commonly the knicker suits were dark suits. HBC is not sure wehy this was, but may be because white short pants suits were more commonly purchased specifically for the First Communion service.

Suit Styles

Most of the short pants suits appear to be single breasted suits. Double breasted suits were popular in the inter-war era. Apparently it was considered more appropriate for older boys wearing long pants. Even so, some white double breasted suits were worn. Unfortunately with these white suits it is often difficult to make out details of the suit.

Shirts and Collars

All boys in the inter-war year wore their First Communion suits with white shirts. Mosdt boys on this page appear tonbe wearingvshirts with standard soft collar that had become the dominate style by the 1920s. One boy, however, appears to be wearing his suit with a large white Eton collar. This is difficult to make out on these photographs because the boys are wearing all white.

Shoes

Boys by the 1920s were mostly wearing lace-up oxfords with their suits. The heavy boot-like shoes often seen in the early 19th century bwecame much less common in tyhe 1920s. Boys almost always were black oxfords, except with white suits. White shoes would normally be worn with white suits to achieve the all-white outfit. Strap shoes were still worn by younger boys for formal events, especially during the early 1920s. They do not appear, however, to have been commonly worn with First Communion suits, even white ones. This was presumably because Forst Communion was seen in part as a rite of passage and strap shoes may have been seen as just to childish for boys old enough to take their First Communion.

Stockings and Socks

Some boys in the immediate post-World War I era still wore long stockings for First Communion and other formal events. These were enenerally dark long stockings for formal events, but an exception was made for boys wearing white short pants suits. Almost always they wore long white stockings. Socks early in the 1920s generally replaced long stockings. They were much more popular with boys as they did not require restrictive hose supporters. They did not entirely disappear, however, until the early 1950s and some boys did wear them throughout the 1930s. Most boys wore kneesocks for First Communion, even though ankle socks were becoming increasingly popular in america during the 1930s. The kneesocks worn vary. Some are the turn-ovr-top kneesocks with the cuffs neatly turned down. This was the type of kneesock most commonly won by American boys. Some photographs, however, show boys wearing kneesocks with out the turn-over-to socks. This was a style more commonly worn by younger boys.

Figure 2.--White knee socks were most commonly worn with white short pants First Communion suits. Note this boys wears a double-breasted short pants suit. TYht wasnot very common.

Colors

Most Americam short pants First Communion suits appear to be white suits, although there were probably dark suits worn as well. The white suits of course symbolized inosence and matched the formal white dresses that the girls commonly wore.

White suits

The short pants suits worn by American boys for First Communion appear to have been primarily white suits. The white short pants suits appear to have been much more common than white knicker suits. More commonly the knicker suits were dark suits. HBC is not sure wehy this was, but may be because white short pants suits were more commonly purchased specifically for the First Communion service. American boys more commonly wore knicker sduits than short pants suits. Thus a dark knicker suits could be worn as a boy's best suit after First Communion. There are several unanswered questions. It is unclear how commonly the boys pictured here in white short pants suits wore short pants. Did the boys pictured here usually wrar knickers and wore white short pants suits especially for First Communion or did they wear short pants most of the time and just got a white suit in theirvnormal suit style.

Dark suits

There may have been dark short pants suits worn for First Communion by American boys. European boys wore them. HBC has just begun its assessment of First Communion suits and further investigation may turn up some dark suits. The prevalence of dark knicker suits suggests that there should beat least some dark short pants suits as well. For some reason, however, HBC has noted realtively few dark short apnts suits worn for First Communion in the historicakl recorsd

Bows and Ties

Younger boys continued to wear collar bows in the 1920s, but much smaller than before World War I. White bows were the mosdt common. Bowties and neckties began to appear in the 1920s. Floppy collar bows were much less common by the early 1930s and rarely seen by the end of the decade for regular wear. There seems to have been a tendency to wear floppy bows especially for First Communion. Many of the avialiable images of boys in the inter-war era show them wearing these floppy bows.

Boys continued to wear large white bows on their sleeves during the inter-war period. There appears o have been considerable diversity here. Some boys did not wear the sleeve bows. Some boys wore smallervbows. Other boys still wore the bows with the long tais commonly seen with boys taking First Communion in the 1900s and 1910s. I am not sure about the origins of these bows, but seem to be a Europeannimport. The same style of bow is commonly seen with European boys taking First Communion.

Hair Styles

As is almost always the case for boys during their First Communion, the boys all have short hair cuts. There hair has been neatly combed by mom for these formal portraits. Cutting a boys curls was often associated with school as a boy would generaly have his long hair cutvbfore beginning school. By the inter-war period, however, it had become less common for even younger boys to have long curls. Pre-school children did sometimes have over the ears hairs that might have natural curls. This would almostvalways be cut before beginning school.

Figure 3.--This boy appears to be weating an Eton collar with his white suit. This was rather unusual combined with the large floppy bow that he wears. The photograph was taken in 1930 and floppy bows as well as Eton collars were becoming less common.

Conventions

HBC is unsure just how the decission on a suit for First Communion was made. I believe that First Communion was generally a school event. Many Catholic children went to Catholic schhols and prepared for First Communion at school. They often participated in the First Communion service with their class. Mothers that would go to the expense of buying a new suit for First Communion, probably would be very likely to choose Catholic schools. I do not know how common it was for Catholic schools to set guidelines for the suits to be worn. This may have been difficult as most catholics in the inter-war era were still working class families. Many were probably hard-pressed tom purchase a new suit, especially a white one whichbwould be primarily for First Communion and not worn for other occasions. Thus it is unclear if boys at First Communion might appear in a diversity of suits, including a mix of short pants, knicker, and long ants suits. Or in a mix of suits of different colors.

Boys' Attitudes

HBC is unsure what boys thought about their First Communion suits. They may have had some preferences, but the style was presumably determined by the school and or parents.

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s]

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Short pants suits] [Blazers] [Jackets] [Kilts]
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats]
[Ring bearer/page costumes] [Shortalls]

Created: December 16, 1999
Last edited: January 30, 2001