Figure 1.--Here we see children doing First Communion in Chester, Pennsylvanias during 1950. Many of these children are the descdents of immigrants from Catholic Europe that began in the late 19th century. Dark suits were popular earlier, but by 1950 white suits were becoming increasingly popular. Apparently the school or church suggested dark suits, but one fashion concious mother chose a white suit. Note how many boys are wearing saddle shoes even with dark suits.

We are not sure when it became common to buy a boy a new suit for his First Communion. Certainly it was the standard practice in America by the early 20th century. Actually we see relatively few First Communion portraits in the late-19th century and quite a number in the early-20th century. We suspect that the massive immigration in the late 19th century and early 20th century was a factor. This brought large numbers of Italians and other Catholic immigrants to America. Thus the number of Catholic children doing First Communion increased exponentially. Families that could afford it bought their sons brand new suits. Some were suits that could be worn for other formal events. Others were special white suits that were just for First Communion. Not all families could afford this. Amercan boys in the first decade of the 20th Century wore suits for First Communion much like those worn in the late-19th Century. This began to change in the 1910s as kneepants were gradually substituted for knickers or short pants and knee socks. There were significant changes in First Communion suits after world War I. Short pants suits appear for the first time. American boys mostly wore knicker suits for First Communion. The standard was a dark, often a navy blue suit. Some boys wore short pants or long pants suits, but the knicker suits were most common. We also see white First Communion suits beginning to appear, especially in the 1940s. The predominately knicker pants styles for First Communion suits began to change in the 1940s. Long pants suits became the predominant style, but short pants suits were worn by some boys through the 1960s. Boys that did wear suits would often wore a special white suit. Unlike the former dark suits, these white suits had only limited untikity after the First Communuib service. The trend toward casual fashions also affected First Communion attire. Beginning in the 1960s it became less common to buy a suit for First Communion, at least for boys. Boys began wearing a simple white shirt, tie, and slacks. Many girls continue, however, to wear quite elaborate white First Communion dresses.

Early 20th Century (1900-20)

I am not sure when it became common to buy a boy a new suit for his First Communion. Certainly it was the standard practice in America by the early 20th century. Actually we see relatively few First Communion portraits in the late-19th century and quite a number in the early-20th century. We suspect that the massive immigration in the late 19th century and early 20th century was a factor. This brought large numbers of Italians and other Catholic immigrants to America. Thus the number of Catholic children doing First Communion increased exponentially. Families that could afford it bought their sons brand new suits. Some were suits that could be worn for other formal events. Others were special white suits that were just for First Communion. Not all families could afford this. Amercan boys in the first decade of the 20th Century wore suits for First Communion much like those worn in the late-19th Century. This began to change in the 1910s as kneepants were gradually substituted for knickers or short pants and knee socks. I think white suits for First Communion may have been popular at the beginning of the 20th Century. American boys often wore white suits. These white suits were often worn with long white stockings. White gloves were common fashion accesories. Boys wore large bows on their arms. I noticed these bows primarily in the early 20th Century, but they could have been worn during the late 19th Century as well.

Inter-War Era (1920-45)

There were significant changes in First Communion suits after world War I. Short pants suits appear for the first time. American boys mostly wore knicker suits for First Communion. The standard was a dark, often a navy blue suit. Some boys wore short pants or long pants suits, but the knicker suits were most common. We also see white First Communion suits beginning to appear, especially in the 1940s.
Suit jacket: American boys commonly wore single breasted suits for First Communion. Some suits, however, were made in the double breasted style.
Shirts: Boys still wore Eton collars in the early 1920s for dress occasins, but they were rapidly being replaced by more comfortable modern-looking soft collars.
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.

Post War Era (1945-70)

The predominately knicker pants styles for First Communion suits began to change in the 1940s. Long pants suits became the predominant style, but short pants suits were worn by some boys through the 1960s. Boys that did wear suits would often wore a special white suit. Unlike the former dark suits, these white suits had only limited untikity after the First Communuib service. The trend toward casual fashions also affected First Communion attire. Beginning in the 1960s it became less common to buy a suit for First Communion, at least for boys. Boys began wearing a simple white shirt, tie, and slacks. Many girls continue, however, to wear quite elaborate white First Communion dresses.

Late 20th Century (1970-2000)

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: 4:12 AM 9/23/2004
Last edited: 4:12 AM 9/23/2004