Figure 1.--This French advertisement (Thiery) shows other styles of First Communion suits available for boys in 1956. Notice the tuxedo like suit the one boy wears with short pants and white kneesocks.

We have begun to collect information about French 20th century First Communion suits. We so far have very little information on early 20th Century French First Communion suits. The suit styles appear to have followed the fashion shifts from kneepants and stockings to short pants and kneesocks. Formal wear, however, sometimes is slow to accept modern trends. Thus knee pants suits and long stockings continued to be worn by most boys for First Communion. I believe that many of the First Communion suits were dark suits worn with dark long stockings. White suits appear to be a trend which developed after World War I. Many boys wore short pants suits for First Communion during in the inter-war years. In fact, for many boys their First Communion suits were their first long pants, a kind od symolic coming of age, emerging from boyhood to adulthood. Many of the suits were white to match the white dresses worn by the girls. White kneesocks were sometimea worn with the suits. White knee socks were more commonly worn by French boys than English boys, but they were considered dressy, not every day wear.

Early 20th Century (1900-20)

We so far have very little information on early 20th Century French First Communion suits. The suit styles appear to have followed the fashion shifts from kneepants and stockings to short pants and kneesocks. Formal wear, however, sometimes is slow to accept modern trends. Thus knee pants suits and long stockings continued to be worn by most boys for First Communion. I believe that many of the First Communion suits were dark suits worn with dark long stockings. White suits appear to be a trend which developed after World War I. A sash was commonly worn on the shoulder. I think white suits for First Communion may have been popular at the beginning of the 20th Century. American boys often wore white suits. I don't know of this was also the case in France. Boys started wearing large bows on their arms. I noticed these bows in the early 20th Century, but they could have been worn during the late 19th Century as well. The predominately short pants styles for First Communion suits began to change in thr 1950s. Other were very formal tuxedos or Eton suits. These more formal suits were sometimes also worn with short pants and white kneesocks. Available information on 1960s suits suggest mostly black suits. Many of the First Communion suits, while black or dark colors, were worn with white kneesocks. While many Catholic schools required boys to wear short pants, often blue shorts, with white kneesocks, most boys usually wore grey or darker colored kneesocks with short pants suits. Boys continued wearing large bows on their arms during the post-war era.

Inter-War Era (1920-45)

Many boys wore short pants suits for First Communion during in the inter-war years. In fact, for many boys their First Communion suits were their first long pants, a kind od symolic coming of age, emerging from boyhood to adulthood. Many of the suits were white to match the white dresses worn by the girls. White kneesocks were sometimea worn with the suits. White knee socks were more commonly worn by French boys than English boys, but they were considered dressy, not every day wear. I'm not sure just when the style of wearing white kneesocks began. One notable fashion is that large numbers of boys did their First Communion in a variety of sailor suits. Surprisingly, white sailor suits were not all that common. The images I have seen are of many long pants sailor suits, but short pants suits were worn as well. Some Catholic schools instead of having parents buy new oufits would have the boys dress up in identical cassocks for the First Communion ceremony. Some of these schools had monks or priests wearing cassocks as teachers. This was not as common in the inter-war era as it was to become after World War II. Only the boys, however, wore the white cassocks. This same style was worn by Swiss boys during First Communion and it may well have been used in other countries as well. Boys continued wearing large bows on their arms.

Figure 2.--Boys at some Catholic boarding schools sometimes wore identical white albs instead of suits for their first Communion. Some choirs also wore albs. The photograph here was taken in 1947. This was the first French choir boy Congress in Paris. The boys are participating in a combined procession through the streets of Paris. Here they are in front the church Saint Eustache. Notice also the children crossing their arms, that meant that they they have not yet done thier first Communion . The priests since 1960 suggested that the children not be dressed in such fancy outfits. Some priests suggested the alb for everyone like the boys here.

Post War Era (1945-70)

The predominately short pants styles for First Communion suits began to change in thr 1950s. Other were very formal tuxedos or Eton suits. These more formal suits were sometimes also worn with short pants and white kneesocks. Available information on 1960s suits suggest mostly black suits. Many of the First Communion suits, while black or dark colors, were worn with white kneesocks. While many Catholic schools required boys to wear short pants, often blue shorts, with white kneesocks, most boys usually wore grey or darker colored kneesocks with short pants suits. Boys continued wearing large bows on their arms during the post-war era. The drawings shown here from the fashion magazine Thiery Sin their Spring-Summer 1956 show mostly double breasted suits. I do not think that double breasted suits were that popular in France that most suits were in that style. Perhaps the double breasted style was considered more formal and thus dominated the styles displayed. Some Catholic schools continued to have the boys dress up in identical cassocks for the First Communion ceremony. This same style was worn by Swiss boys during First Communion and it may well havebeen used in other countries as well. We have found one 1950s portrait, but unsure about the nationality. Many readers believe that it may be European, possibly French.

Late 20th Century (1970-2000)

We do not have much information on French First Communion suits in the late 20th century. One 1970 photograph shows boys wearing cassocks and dark long pants suits. I believe sailor suits were also worn. We do not note the fancy sleeve ribbons. The girls wear white dresses. The 1970 photograph shows more simple dresses than were the case in the past.

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Created: May 17, 2002
Last edited: 3:47 PM 5/26/2009