Figure 1.--Belgian boys began wearing short pants in the 1900s, but kneepants were more common until after World War I (1914-18). Here it is difficult to tell if the boy is wearing knee pants or short pants because the early short pants were so long. The popularity of Scouting was a factor in the growing popularity of short pants. This boy photographed in 1910 wears turn-over-top kneesocks. Note the turtle-neck sweater.

Belgian Boys Pants and Trousers

We note Belgian boys wearing all the differentb types of pants. We see shorts, knee pants, knickers, bloomer knickers, and long pants. We do not vyet have extensive information on the different types of pants. Some are diifficult to identify as there are similarities, especially between shorts and knee pants. The first short pants were done like knee pants. The popularity of the different types of pants varied over time. Our informatiom on Belgian pants are limited, especially on the 19th century. Belgian boys mostly wore long pants in the first half of the 19th century. After mid-century, knee pants became nore common. We have more information on the 20th century. Short pants became more common by the 1910s as knee pants gradually transitioned into sgorts. And were mostly worn by Belgian boys after World War I. It is often difficult to identify the two as the first short pants were quite long. The growing popularity of the Boy Scout movement was probably a factor here in popularizing short pants. Pants during the 19th and much of the 20th century were a boys' garment. Short pants at the times were a boys' garment. By the 1930s, a girl might wear shorts for sport or at the seaside, but they remained primarily a boy's garment through the 1950s. The cut of girls' shorts were not the same as the short pants worn by boys. Knee pants had been worn with both short socks and long stockings. Boys in the 1920s and 30s commonly wore short pants with knee socks. Shorts were very commonly worn by Belgian boys through the 1950s. Boys of all ages wore them, including most younger teenagers. Even some older teenagers wore shorts. Older boys might wear knickers and long pants. This varied from family to family. Belgium is a very traditional country. Boys in Belgium continued to commonly wear shorts even after other boys in Europe were wearing long pants and jeans. At times age conventions were imortant. Short pants were most commom amomng younger boys, although this varied chronological Knickers might be worn as a transition between short and long pants. There mnight also be seasonal differences, although this also varied chronologically. Pants were done in various material. This is often difficult to discern from photographs. Corduroy appears to have been a popular material.

Types of Pants

We note Belgian boys wearing all the differentb types of pants. We see shorts, knee pants, knickers, bloomer knickers, and long pants. We do not yet have extensive information on the different types of pants. Some are diifficult to identify as there are similarities, especially between shorts and knee pants. We can see that with the boy here (figure 1). The first short pants were done like knee pants, both were cut at knee level. A major difference is that knee pants were commonly done with decorative buttons at the knee hem. This emulatted the knee breeches that wereworn in the 19th century.

Chronology

The Belgian chronological trends for pants are the same as for much of Europe. The popularity of the different types of pants varied over time. Men and boys commonly wore knee breeches in the 18th century. These breeches had nothing to so with age. This did not begin to change until the French Revolution. Revolutinaries along with the urban and rural poor adopted the sans cullote style of long pants. The style was at first not widely accepted by the fashionable elite except for boys. The boys began wearing skeleton suits with long pants (1800s). Adult men did not begin to make the shift until later (1810s). Our informatiom on Belgian pants are limited, especially until the mid-19th century. Belgian boys mostly wore long pants in the first half of the 19th century. After mid-century, knee pants became more common. And with the advent of photograpgy (1840s) we can follow this in some detail. Unfortunately we do not have many 19th century and the ones we have are all from the later 19th century and are mostly studio portaits. We have more information on the 20th century and both studiomportaits and famoly sbapshotds. Short pants became more common by the 1910s as knee pants gradually transitioned into shorts. It is often difficult to identify the two as the first short pants were quite long. The growing popularity of the Boy Scout movement which appearedd early in the20th century was probably a factor here in popularizing short pants. And Belgian boys after World War I mostly wore shorts. Shorts were very commonly worn by Belgian boys through the 1950s. Beginning in the 1960s we see more Beklgian boys wearing long pamts. And jeans begin to become popular.

Gender

Pants during the 19th and much of the 20th century were a boys' garment. Short pants at the times were a boys' garment. By the 1930s, a girl might wear shorts for sport or at the seaside, but they remained primarily a boy's garment through the 1950s. The cut of girls' shorts were not the same as the short pants worn by boys.

Suspension


Hosiery

Knee pants had been worn with both short socks and long stockings. Boys in the 1920s and 30s commonly wore short pants with knee socks.

Age Trends

Boys of all ages wore them, including most younger teenagers. Even some older teenagers wore shorts. Older boys might wear knickers and long pants. This varied from family to family. Belgium is a very traditional country. Boys in Belgium continued to commonly wear shorts even after other boys in Europe were wearing long pants and jeans. At times age conventions were imortant. Short pants were most commom amomng younger boys, although this varied chronologucal Knickers might be worn as a transition between shorts and long pants.

Seasonality

There mnight also be seasonal differences, although this also varied seasonally.

Material

Pants were done in various material. This is often difficult to discern from photographs. Corduroy appears to have been a popular material.








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Created: July 4, 2002
Last updated: 11:13 PM 11/6/2019