Figure 1.--These unidentified German boys are wearing dark double-breasted suits with white knee socks for their First Communion. Notice that the vboys are not wearing ties. The candles which was very common in Germany. The snapshot was also undated. The dealer thought the photograph was taken in 1930, we might guess the 1950s. A reader writes, "I agree with you. The photo must have been taken in the 1950s. The word on the wall behind the boys reads Gaststätte. That simply means Restaurant." Perhaps the family was having a dinner there to celebrate the occassion."

We note German boys wearing a wide variety of oyfits for their First Communions. Suits were the mosy common. We see many different styles. Boys almost always wore suits for First Communion into the 1960s. First Communion was a very important event and thus a new suit was often purchased for the occassion. Boys wore suits with both single breasted and double beasted styling. Norfolk styling was also common. Some German boys wore white short pants suits, often with kneesocks. Long pants suits begame more common in the 1970s. Colors also changed after World War I. Before the War, most boys wore somber, datk colored suits, normally with dark long stockings. After the War, lighter colored suits appeared, often worn with light-colored long stockings or even white knee socks. Dark suits were also very common, we think both black and navy blue suits were worn. Many boys wore white knee socks with their suits. A few boys wore formal suits that would not be appropriate for ordinary wear, but would be reserved for First Communion or a few very special occassions.

Popularity

We note German boys wearing a wide variety of oyfits for their First Communions. Suits were the most common. We see many different styles. Boys almost always wore suits for First Communion into the 1960s. First Communion was a very important event and thus a new suit was often purchased for the occassion.

Caps

We see some boys wearing caps for First Comminion. Some of the caps matched the suits. Wometimes the voys wore their school caps with the suits.

Jackets

Boys wore suits with both single breasted and double beasted styling. Norfolk styling appeared in the late-19th century. We do not see many First Communion porteaits, however, until the early-20th century. Thus we see some Norfolk suits worn for First Communion in the early-20th century. We mostly see boys wearing either single- and double-breasted suits. We think thast the double-breasted suits were considerd a little more formal which is probably why we see quite a number of double-breasted suiots for First Communion. The single-breasted suits became increasingly common in the 1930s. We do not see the sleeve sashes like we often see in American and France. We do see some boys with lapel boutonnieres. We do not see many German boys wearing Eton suits as was common in America.

Ties

We see boys wearung their First Communion suits both with and without ties. Quite a number of boys did not wear ties. I think this was because they simply did not have ties, but are not entirely sure.

Pants

German boys until well after World war II mostly wore knee pants or short pants First Communion suits. We also see knickers, but they were not very common, probanly because it was mostly teenagers who wore jnickers, above the First Communion age. We do not see many boys wearing long psnts sduits for First Communion until well after Workd war II. Long pants suits begame more common during the 1970s. .

Colors

German boys before World War II mostly wore somber, datk colored suits, normally with dark long stockings. Colors also changed after World War I After the War, lighter colored suits appeared, often worn with light-colored long stockings or even white knee socks. Dark suits were also very common, we think both black and navy blue suits were worn. Some German boys wore white short pants suits, often with kneesocks, but they were not as common as in America.

Hosiery

We see boys wearing long stockings in the early-2oth century, most;y dark long stockings. We begin to see white knee socks in the 1930s. White knee socks were considered dressy. Many boys wore white knee socks with their suits through the 1950s. .

Utility

A few boys wore formal suits that would not be appropriate for ordinary wear, but would be reserved for First Communion or a few very special occassions.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s] [The 1960s] [The 1970s] [The 1980s] [The 1990s]

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

Created: 7:02 AM 8/15/2010
Last edited: 9:02 PM 8/15/2010