Figure 1.--The boys in a Canadian school show the popular fashions in 1973. Also note the long hair styles. Image courtesy of the MC collection.

Canadian boys in the late 20th century appear to dress little different than American boys. The major difference, however, is that warm weather summer fashions are less common in Canada than in America. Warm weather summer fashions, such as tank tops, shorts and sport sandals are worn by all Canadian children, but probably for a shorter time than in the United States. They are worn by all Canadian children from June to September as the weather in Canada is hot only during that period. HBC thought that it might be best to say warm, but a Canadian reader tells us, The summers in Canada are very hot (80-90° F), and the weather is warm during spring and fall. So to say it's warm only in the summer gives the wrong impression that the rest of the year is always cold and that's not true." Thus Canadians boys dress essentially the same as the boys in the northern United States. They may often look somewhat different than the boys in the southern United States, but only on a seasonal basis. We are developing some information on specific decades. Boys in the 1970s wear turtle necks and "T" shirts. Jeans, stripped pabts, and flares were popular. Sneakers became very stylish. Many boys wore their hair long in the 70s.

The 1970s

Until the 1970s we notice some differences between Canadoan and American clothing. Bu the 1970s we no longer see any significant differences. Canadian boys in the late 20th century appear to dress little different than American boys. The major difference, however, is that warm weather summer fashions are less common in Canada than in America. Warm weather summer fashions, such as tank tops, shorts and sport sandals are worn by all Canadian children, but probably for a shorter time than in the United States. They are worn by all Canadian children from June to September as the weather in Canada is hot only during that period. HBC thought that it might be best to say warm, but a Canadian reader tells us, The summers in Canada are very hot (80-90° F), and the weather is warm during spring and fall. So to say it's warm only in the summer gives the wrong impression that the rest of the year is always cold and that's not true." Thus Canadians boys dress essentially the same as the boys in the northern United States. They may often look somewhat different than the boys in the southern United States, but only on a seasonal basis. We are developing some information on specific decades. Boys in the 1970s wear turtle necks and "T" shirts. Jeans, stripped pants, and flares were popular. Sneakers became very stylish. Many boys wore their hair long in the 70s.

The 1980s

The 1990s

Created: October 8, 2003
Last updated: 7:46 PM 3/31/2006