Figure 1.-- This is Tom in the back garden (back yard) with the families two Westies. The boy's name was Tom. His last name may have been Buckle. He is wearing what looks like a school shirt and the standard grey short pants worn at school. The snapshot is not dated, but was probably taken in the 1930s, possibly the early-20s.

There were major changes in English boys' garments following World War I. Some of the garments commonly worn by English boys during this period are discussed here. The peaked cap became not only common, but ubiquitous at school. Headwear in general began to become somewhat less prevalent, but not the school cap. Boys commonly wore suits and ties, not only for school, but for everyday wear as well. We see single-breasted suit coats becoming standard. Sailor suits declind in popularity. Sweaters became a popular garment both for shool and casual wear. Short pants replaced knee pants and were fairly standard for boys. Sweaters bec came popular as vests largelywent out of style. Kilts disappeared except for formal wear sich as society settings. Long stockings disappared except at some conservative girls schools and for formalwear, mostly girls forml wear. Knee socks became standards, sometines called long socks. We begin to see ankle socks, especially during the 1930s, mostly for summer wear. Sandals became popular as heavy boot-like high-top shoes disappeared. The standard style was single strap closed-toe sandals. Sandals became known as school sandals. Sneakers called plimsols might be worn during the summer.

Headwear

Many English boys before World War I wore sailor hats and caps. This was especially true of boys from the upper class and confortable middle-class. After the War, sailor headwear becomes much less common. Most boys wear either flat caps or peaked school caps. In the 1930s, the peaked school cap greadually replaced the flat caps. The peaked cap became not only common, but ubiquitous at school. Headwear in general began to become somewhat less prevalent, but not the school cap. These caps had social connotations, but we do not fully understand them at this time. Boys from working class families commonly wore these flat caps. We have seen, however, some boys from affluent families in trendy clothes wearing them.

Rompers

Romers were another style worn by younger boys from wealthy families before beginning school. They were not as common as in France, but were worn.

Smocks

English boys did not wear smocks to school like French boys. Boys from wealthy families, however, might wear smocks at home before beginning boarding school at age 8.

Blouses and Shirts

Sweaters

Sweaters became a popular garment both for shool and casual wear. Sweaters beccame popular as vests largely went out of style.

Sailor suits

Sailor suits declind in popularity in England during the inter-War era. Sailor suits became in England become primarily at outfit worn by very young boys. A good example is the West boys wearing sailor suits about 1920. After about age 8 years we do not see many sailor suits, especially in the 1930s. (Sailor suits were, however, still worn by some older boys in Germany, France, and other continental countries.)

Suits

Boys commonly wore suits and ties, not only for school, but for everyday wear as well. We see single-breasted suit coats becoming standard.

Pants

Short pants replaced knee pants and were fairly standard for boys. We see knee pants in the early-20s as well as some boys wearing knickers and long pants, but most British boys wore short pants which they called short trousers in the inter-war years. They tended to be knee-length and baggy. The shorts Tom here is wearing is a good example (figure 1). They were worn for dress, school, and play. Conventions varied from family to family as to the ages boys wore shorts. Many boys got their first pair of long trousers at about 13 or 14 years of age. Some boys wore shorts longer. Many boys wore short until they finished school. Boys from wealthy families might begin wearing wear long trousers at an earlier age. Short pants replaced kneepants in the 1920s, but were generally quite long throughout the interwar period. Flannel was a popular material as was corduroy.

Kilts

Kilts were not just worn in Scottish. We see English boys wearinf kilts as ell, but as commonly. This was normallybthe case in well-to-do families. English boys no longer commonly wore kilts. We do occassionally see them in society eddings.

Hosiery

Most boys in the inter-war era wore knee socks. Which were called turn-over-top socks. We note few images of boys wearing long pver the knee stockings. The images we have noted show boys wearing the turn-over-top socks and not the knee socks which came to the knee without the cuff. Some boys in the summer with ankle socks or tennis shoes or sandals without socks. Few boys went barefoot. The knee socks were normally grey with a patterened turn over top. Plain grey knee socks were less common. We have seen an image of a bioy wearing red knee socks, but do not believe that this was very common. Boys wearing school uniforms to private school wore grey knee socks. After World War II, grey knee socks with school color bands were common, I'm not sure how common this convention was in the inter-war era. Argyle kneesocks were also not common, but might be worn with kilts. Argyle knee socks were also worn with knickers called plus-fours, but this was more common with adults than boys. Younger boys from affluent families might wear white socks with sandals or strap shoes.

Footwear

Sandals became popular as heavy boot-like high-top shoes disappeared. Sandals became known as school sandals. Sneakers called plimsols might be worn during the summer. The standard style was single strap closed-toe sandals. Strap shoes and closed-toe sandals were common in the inter war yeras. Strap shoes were worn by younger boys, both for play and for dress. Sandals were widely worn for play and schools by boys into their younger teens.

Created: 4:43 AM 12/18/2017
Last updated: 4:43 AM 12/18/2017