Figure 1.--Gere we see what came to be a standard inter-War era First Commbination suit during the inter-War era. Note the Eton collar, collar-bow, knickers, and black long stockings. This portait was taken in 1936. After the mid-30s we see knickers perceptively declining in popularity.

Most First Communion suits during the inter-Wr era were done as knicker suits. Early in the 1920s, above the knee knickers were often worn, usually with long stockings. Knickers that bloused out were sometimes called "plus fours" (especially in England). This was a particularly common term in Britain. The knickers commonly worn in the 1930s were more tightly styled. By the mid-1920s, knickers buckling below the knee were becoming more common. It was still common in the 1920s to wear long stockings for dress occasions rather than the more casual-looking kneesocks. Unlike European boys, American boys did not commonly wear solid color kneesock. Thus often the boys in the early 1920s wearing solid colored dark socks are wearing long stockings rather than knee socks. This was still seen in the 1930s, but was not very common. Some boys had long pants suits, but they were not nearly as common as the knicker suits. The long pants suit were rarely all white, presumably because there would be little use forvan all white long pants suit after the First Communion service. Long pants suits became more common in the 1940s, although gradually after the 1940s boys began wearing more informal outfits for First Communion, white shirts and slacks instead of a suit. Girls continued to wear very formal white dresses. During the inter-war era, however, long pants were not very common for First Communion, especially in the 1920s. They became somewhat more common in the 1930s. Some boys wore short pants suit, but 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 knee socks. 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.

Knickers

Early in the 1920s, above the knee knickers were often worn, usually with long stockings. Knickers that bloused out were sometimes called "plus fours" (especially in England). This was a particularly common term in Britain. The knickers commonly worn in the 1930s were more tightly styled. By the mid-1920s, knickers buckling below the knee were becoming more common. It was still common in the 1920s to wear long stockings for dress occasions rather than the more casual-looking knee socks. Unlike European boys, American boys did not commonly wear solid color kneesock. Thus often the boys in the early 1920s wearing solid colored dark socks are wearing long stockings rather than knee socks. This was still seen in the 1930s, but was not very common.

Long Pants

Some boys had long pants suits, but they were not nearly as common as the knicker suits. The long pants suit were rarely all white, presumably because there would be little use forvan all white long pants suit after the First Communion service. Long pants suits became more common in the 1940s, although gradually after the 1940s boys began wearing more informal outfits for First Communion, white shirts and slacks instead of a suit. Girls continued to wear very formal white dresses. During the inter-war era, however, long pants were not very common for First Communion, especially in the 1920s. They became somewhat more common in the 1930s.

Short Pants

Some boys wore short pants suit, but 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.

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

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

Created: 10:53 AM 6/29/2022
Last edited: 10:53 AM 6/29/2022