Figure 1.--German boys begin to change their attitudes toward pants in the mid-1950s. Short pants began to become less popular and were increasingly seen as casual summer wear. Some older boys did not want to wear them. Here we see a group of teenagers during the mid-1050s on a summer trip. Note that even though it is a hot summer day that several boys are wearing long pnts--some jeans.

German boys like boys and men throughout Europe wore kneebreeches in the 18th century. By the 19th centurty a wider variety of styles were worn. Boys in many countries began wearing long pants as part of new fashionable skeleton suits. HBC is not sure, however, how common skeleton suits were in the German states. Most German boys wore long pants throughout the 19th century. We see some boys from fashionable families wearing shortened-length pants by mid-century, both bloomer knickers and knee pants. Even so into the 1870s most German boys wore long pants. By the late 19th century the boys' age began to increasingly affect the style of pants worn. Kneepants were widely worn by the turn of the 20th century. Afterwards short pants became increasingly common with knickers worn by older boys. Before World War II most German boys wore short pants until about 15 years of age, although there were differences from family to family. Throughout the 19th and 20 centuty long pants were also worn, but became increasingly common in the late 1950s. American jeans in particular became popular, but mant German parents did not bekieve they were appropriate boyswear. Long pants became more nd more popular in the 1960s. Short pants began to be seen as casual or sports wear.

The 18th Century

German boys like boys and men throughout Europe wore knee breeches in the 18th century. The working-class might wear long pants, but most men of any status wore knee breeches. Children generally wore small editions of their parents clothes.

The 19th Century

By the 19th centurty a wider variety of styles were worn. Boys in many countries began wearing long pants as part of new fashionable skeleton suits. Boys wore long pants before thei fathers commonly began to do so. HBC is not sure, however, how common skeleton suits were in the German states. Most German boys wore long pants throughout the 19th century. We see some boys from fashionable families wearing shortened-length pants by mid-century, both bloomer knickers and knee pants. This was a fashionable city style. Boys in rural areas werre more likely to wear long pants. Even so into the 1870s most German boys wore long pants. By the late 19th century the boys' age began to increasingly affect the style of pants worn.

The 20th Century

Knee pants were widely worn by German boys at the turn of the 20th century. I don't think knee pants were as common for older boys as was the case in America, but I need to persue this topic in more detail. After World War I short pants became increasingly common, gradually replacing knee pants. Some teenagers might wear knicketrs. We note, however, that many boys for their Konfirmation portraits at age 13 wore knee pants suits which appararently seen as more formal than short pants although the length was essentially the same. Families differeed on this and with the age conventions associated with the different types of pants. Some families bought long pants suits while other knee or short pants suits. Knickers were normally worn by older boys at school, often boys 15 year or older. Before World War II most German boys wore short pants until about 14-15 years of age, although this differed from family to family. Throughout the 19th and 20 centuty long pants were also worn, but became increasingly common during the 1950s, especially the late-1950s. We see many teenagers wearing short pants in the 1950s, but this was much less common in the 1960s. American jeans in particular became popular, but mant German parents did not believe they were appropriate boyswear. Long pants including jeans became more and more popular in the 1960s. Short pants began to be seen as casual or sports wear. German boys by the 1970s were wearing much less destinctive clothing as Europe began to make the transition to a kind of pan-European fashion.

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Created: 2:51 AM 10/7/2007
Last updated: 2:51 AM 10/7/2007