Figure 1.--This portrait of Fritz Harmissen.was taken in Bremen, Germany, probably in the 1870s. Album1900 tells us, The portrait looks to have been taken in the 1870s, but not earlier. The design of the cardbord is not late 1860s." The boy wears a 3-button single breasted blazer in the ackm style with long pants. Notice the peaked military cap on the table and pants cuffs. Image couertesy of Image1900.

German boys in the mid-19th century generally wore long pants suits. Many fashionable suits had pants and jackets in matching rather than contrasting colors. Long pants suits were still common in the 1870s, but gradually kneepants and knicker suits became increasibgly common. These shorter cut pants were quite common in the late 19th century. Long pants suits were also worn, but HBC is unsure how common they were. We're not sure when knicker suits first appeared. German boys still commonly weore kneepants suits in the early 20th century. After World War I (1914-18), short pants suits became increasingly common--although older boys might wear knicker suits. Suits became worn less in the 1930s after the NAZI take over. After World War II, Gemany was in a terrible state and few families had much money for clothing. Many German boys continued wearing their suits after they had rather grown out of them. Many boys still wore short pants suits in the 1950s, often with sports shirts or with an open collar. By the 1960s, boys were increasingly wearing long pants suits, although suits were being wrn less than before as German boys increasingly turned to more casual fashions. Many boys now get their first suits at age 14 for their confirmation. Catholic boys might get a suit even earlier for their First Communions.

19th Century

German boys in the early 19th century wore skeleton suits with long pants. New style developed before mid century. Boys began wearing sack suits with long pants while younger boys might wear tunic jackets, also mostly with long pants. Boys mid-19th century generally wore long pants suits. Many fashionable suits had pants and jackets in matching rather than contrasting colors. Younger boys might wear knee pants or bloomer knickers. Long pants suits were still common in the 1870s, but gradually kneepants and knicker suits became increasibgly common. These shorter cut pants were quite common in the late 19th century. Long pants suits were also worn, but HBC is unsure how common they were. Most older boys still wore long pats suits. We're not sure when knicker suits first appeared.

20th Century

German boys continued to commonly weore kneepants suits in the early 20th century. After World War I (1914-18), short pants suits became increasingly common--although older boys might wear knicker suits. Knee pants gradually disappeard, but short pants were generally quitelong through the 1920s. Suits became worn less in the 1930s after the NAZI take over. But most boys had short pants suits. After World War II, Gemany was in a terrible state and few families had much money for clothing. Many German boys continued wearing their suits after they had rather grown out of them. Families differened as to when a boy would receive his first long pants suit. Most younger teenagers still wore short pnts suits. Many boys still wore short pants suits in the 1950s, often with sports shirts or with an open collar. By the 1960s, boys were increasingly wearing long pants suits, although suits were being worn less than before as German boys increasingly turned to more casual fashions. Many boys now get their first suits at age 14 for their confirmation. Catholic boys might get a suit even earlier for their First Communions.

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Created: 1:47 AM 6/14/2007
Last updated: 1:47 AM 6/14/2007