Figure 1.--This Canadian boy on New Brunswick with his sisters looks like he may have just come from a wedding. A boy this age wearing a long pants suit in the early 1950s show the American influence.

One might think that given the climate that long pants suits have been more common in Canada than other countries, but this does not seem to have been the case. The types of pants worn have varied over time. There also appears to be social class factors involved. I'm not sure how common kneepants suits were in the late 19th century. They were common in America, but somewhat less so in England. It is likely that kneepants suits were common, but at this time we have little information. Canadian boys at the turn of the century seem to be commonly wearing knicker suits through the 1930s. The style persisted into the mid-1950s a litter longer than in America. Short pants suits became increasingly popular after World War, showing the influence of English fashions. This occurred Despite the climate. Short pants suits appear to have been more common than in America. Long pants suits became increasingly common in the 1940s and were largely worn by the 1960s.

Chronology

The types of pants worn by Canadian boys have varied over time. We do not yet have much information on the 19th century. We note boys wearing knee pants at the turn-of-the 20th century. This very quicjlt changed to knickers by the 1910s as it did in the United States. Knickers continued to be the dominant pants style for boys through the 1930s. We begin ti see more boys wearing long pants in the 1940s.

Social Class

There also appears to be social class factors involved in thetypes of pants worn. We suspect tht they were very similar to those in the United States..

Types

Suits came with various types of pants. Suit pants were often referred to as trousers. The different types include long pants, knee pants, kbickers, and short pants. The popularity and ge conventions for the different types have varied over time. One might think that given the climate that long pants suits have been more common in Canada than other countries, but this does not seem to have been the case. Some boys in the 1950s wore knicker and short pants suits, but long pants suits were becoming increasingly common. Even younger boys might have long pants suits. Long pants suits became increasingly common in the 1940s and were largely worn by the 1960s. I'm not sure how common kneepants suits were in the late 19th century. They were common in America, but somewhat less so in England. It is likely that kneepants suits were common, but at this time we have little actual information because of our limited Canadian archive. Knee pans were virtually universal for American boys at the turn-of-the 20th century. We think that this was probably the same in Canada. Canadian boys at the turn of the century seem to be commonly wearing knicker suits A very large porortion of the photographs we have archived during the early-20th century of boys in suits show boys wearing kneepants and knickers with long stockings. We note boys wearing both above and below the knees knickers. Even older teenagers wore knickers. Before World War I (1914-18) boys commonly wore knicker suits to hifg school. This became less common after the War. After the War boys began wearing kneesocks although long stockings continued to be worn with knicker suits for years. Knickers were quite common through the 1930s. The style persisted into the mid-1950s a little longer than in America. The cut of knickers varied substantially over time. Short pants suits became increasingly popular after World War I, showing the influence of English fashions. This occurred despite the climate. The British influence was probably a factor here, especially among boys attending private schools. Short pants suits appear to have been more common than in America.

Created: June 25, 2001
Last updated: 11:11 PM 11/3/2008