Figure 1.--Lederhosen were popular for younger boys in the 1970s and 80s--I'm not sure about the 1960s. Older boys mostly wanted to wear jeans. Noted the gingham shirts.

German boys' clothes began to change in the 1960s. One factor was rising income levels. Another was the development of rebellious teen culture. The trend developed later in Germany than in America and other western European countries, but by the 1960s it had arrived. The change was particularly rapid after the Paris student strike of 1968. By the 1970s shorts had become increasingly rare anong older teenagers, but younger boys still commonly wore them--although more on a seasonable basis. Little boys still wearing shorts during the winter might be dressed in long over the knee stockings or in beginning in the 1950s, tights. Some boys would wear them for warmth under long pants. Most German boys like other boys in Western Europe wanted jeans. The change was a slower in Communist Eastern Germany (DDR). But East Germany received West German (BRD) television and fashion easily breeched the Iron Curtain. By the time that the Berlin Wall fell, German boys were dressing in the indestinguishable pan-European styles. The West German boys were a bit more stylish as their parents had more money, but the same styles were commonly worn on both sides of the Wall. Lederhosen became popular for younger boys. Open toed sandals were widely worn. Perhaps the modst notable trend during the Cold War era in Germany was that boys less and less worn destinctively German styles and instead adoopted the kind of pan-European styles worn throughout Europe.

The 1960s

Trends begun in the post-War 1950s became much more proniunced in the 1960s. One major factor in West Germany was the development of a strong commercial culture. The poist-War econnomic miracle was in full swing. Many Germans, including woirking-class Germans, experienced a level of affluencece never begfore known. This of course had a major impact on clothing and fashion because parents could afford a level of discretionary spending nver before possible. Some German boys still dressed up in short pants and kneesocks in the 1960s. German boys' clothes began to change in the 1960s. One factor was rising income levels. Another was the development of rebellious teen culture. The trend developed later in Germany than in America and other western European countries, but by the 1960s it had arrived. Older boys increasinglybpreferred casualmstyles and wanted to wear jeans. The change was particularly rapid after the Paris student strike of 1968.

Figure 2.--These German boys in the 1970s wear the short jean short pants that were popular for summer wear, Note the open-toe sandals they are wearing.

The 1970s

By the 1970s shorts had become increasingly rare anong older teenagers, but younger boys still commonly wore them--although more on a seasonable basis. Shorts were increasing;y being worn for casual wear. Casual shorts for play were made in various material. Denim became very popular. Boys wore quite short shorts in the 1970s. Little boys still wearing shorts during the winter might be dressed in long over the knee stockings or in beginning in the 1950s, tights. Some boys would wear them for warmth under long pants. Most German boys like other boys in Western Europe wanted jeans. The change was a slower in Communist Eastern Germany (DDR). But East Germany received West German (BRD) television and fashion easily breeched the Iron Curtain. By the time that the Berlin Wall fell, German boys were dressing in the indestinguishable pan-European styles. The West German boys were a bit more stylish as their parents had more money, but the same styles were commonly worn on both sides of the Wall. Lederhosen became popular for younger boys. Sneakers became increasingly popular, but open-toed sandals were widely worn. German boys commonly wore their sandals with socks--often dark or paterned ankle socks.

The 1980s

Boys continued wearing short cut shorts in the 1980s, but mostly as seasonal wear during the summer. Shorts in Germany were seen as casual wear by older boys. Few boys wore shorts during the winter. Kneesocks declined in popularity. In the mid-1980s Athletic-styled shorts in a variety of colors became very popular. By the late 1980s longer shorts were being worn. Most older boys wore long pants. The tights boys had worn during the winter in the 1960s and 70s declined in popularity during the 1980s. One notable trred was that German boiys like other European boys were increasingly adopting a kind of pan-European styles. Destinctly German styles were becoming less common.

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Created: March 5, 2001
Last updated: May 7, 2004