Figure 1.--Here we see a scene in a Norwich opedestrian shopping mall. We think this might be an after school sceen. The snapshot is dated July 14, 1976, but thus may be when the snapshot was pricessed, not when uit was taken, by the 1970s grey shiort oabnts and jnee sicks were declining, exceopt as schoolwear.

Income levels were rising in Britain, not as fast as in other European countries, especially France and Germany. Even so income levels were rising. This increase in income had increaed family discressonary income. British boys were acquiring much larger wardrobes than was the case before World War II or even the post-War era. Boys began asking for all kinds of new fashions. And families could aford them. Contributors mention all sorts of ludicrous styles, such as purple loon pants. . The 1970s were a particularly weird time for fashion and perhaps we should be grateful for the punk revolution in the late 1970s which, if nothing else, took stupidity in clothing to the ultimate limits. There were major changes in headwear in the 1970s. Headwear in general was falling out of style. Boys once always wore headwear away from home. Bythev 1979s this was no longer common, even at school. And tradituoal styles had gome out of style, inckludung the once nearly univrsal peaked school cap. It survived only at some private schools and the Cub Scouts. But the American baseball cap begins to make an appearance. Tank tops and 'T" shirts were the 'in' thing for the summer. British boys during the 1970s generally wore short pants up to the age of 12 or 13 years. At about the age of 11, many boys became self-conscious about being kept in shorts. The situation was made even more difficult by the fact that at this time girls and women were also dressing in short shorts, or "hot pants" as they were called. This trend was unheard of in the 1950s, and even in the 1960s in Britain. Until the early 70s, shorts had always been exclusively for boys. Many British boys began giving their parents endless trouble before we got our first pair of jeans. The style of short pants which were still worn by any boys for school and cubs changed in the late 1960s and early 1970s to a more Continental look. The long, baggy flannel shorts worn through the 1950s disappeared. Boys by the 1970s wore much shorter cut short pants, most commonly made of Tereyln blends. Terelyn was a British trade mark for polyester. Other styles of short pants were worn in the 1970s. Jean shorts were a popular style of casual short pants. Mothers for a dressier look liked to buy velour shorts for their younger boys, usually in dark blues anf browns. They had an almost velvet look. These were simple shorts with elastic waists and no pockets. Boys sttll wore sandals, primarily closed toe sandals, known as school sandals. They were declining in popularity, but still widely worn by younger bous. Many orivate schools sttilkl required them. Butas everyday wear they were declining in popularity. The trendy 'in' footwear during the 1970s were sneakers or running shoes as they were commonly called. They increased in popuklarity as the dcadev ptogressed. Trendy boys might wear 'woodies' which were fairly normal looking shoes except for the multi-ply wooden soles.

Headwear

There were major changes in headwear in the 1970s. Headwear in general was falling out of style. Boys once always wore headwear away from home. By the 1970s this was no longer common, even at school. And tradituoal styles had gome out of style, inckludung the once nearly univrsal peaked school cap. It survived only at some private schools and the Cub Scouts. But the American baseball cap begins to make an appearance.

Shirts

Boys still wore collared shirts to school, often with ties. White shirts were commnon. We note grey shirts for every day wear at private schools, we are not sure if they were common at state schools. We see short sleeves becoming common for summer wear. The boy here is a goid example (figure 1). Artex shirts appeared. We are not sure just when short skleeves becanme common, perhaps in the 1960s. Informal 'T' shirts and sweat shirts increased in popularity. Logos with sports tems and rock stars ppeared. Tank tops were also the "in" thing with many boys during the summer.

Pants

British boys during the 1970s generally wore short pants up to the age of 12 or 13 years. At about the age of 11, many boys became self-conscious about being kept in shorts. The situation was made even more difficult by the fact that at this time girls and women were also dressing in short shorts, or "hot pants" as they were called. This trend was unheard of in the 1950s, and even in the 1960s in Britain. Until the early 70s, shorts had always been exclusively for boys. Many British boys began giving their parents endless trouble before we got our first pair of jeans. The style of short pants which were still worn by any boys for school and cubs changed in the late 1960s and early 1970s to a more Continental look. The long, baggy flannel shorts worn through the 1950s disappeared. Boys by the 1970s wore much shorter cut short pants, most commonly made of Tereyln blends. Terelyn was a British trade mark for polyester. Other styles of short pants were worn in the 1970s. Jean shorts were a popular style of casual short pants. Mothers for a dressier look liked to buy velour shorts for their younger boys, usually in dark blues ana browns. They had an almost velvet look. These were simple shorts with elastic waists and no pockets. They were not very popular with boys, even the youger ones, but many mothers liked them. One English reader writes, "Many British boys in the 1970's did not commonly wear out of school--unless their mothers insisted."

Footwear

Boys sttll wore sandals, primarily closed toe sandals, known as school sandals. They were declining in popularity, but still widely worn by younger bous. Many orivate schi=ools sttilkl required them. Butas everyday wear they were declining in popuklarity. The trendy 'in' footwear during the 1970s were sneakers or running shoes as they were commonly called. They increased in popuklarity as the dcadev ptogressed. Trendy boys might wear 'woodies' which were fairly normal looking shoes except for the multi-ply wooden soles.

Created: 11:43 AM 7/8/2023
Last updated: 11:44 AM 7/8/2023