|
Nor do we have any information on early 20th century clothing. The 1930s was surprisingly a period of wealth and stability for Greece. It is often mockingly called "belle epoque". Sailor suits were very popular for boys at that time. Two things that one must consider when it come to boys clothing in Greece during the 1940s is that climate and economics. The climate was (and still is) very warm especially in the southern part of Greece. Greece was also a very poor country at the time, as it struggled with the Nazi occupation (1941-44) and the bloody civil war with the Communists (1944-49). Boys wore very cheap and minimal clothing like short pants and sandals. The same trend of short pants up untill 14 years of age was kept during the 1950s. But it was obvious that during these years people could afford some better clothing for their children. In general the clothing was the same but it was better in quality. Big changes occured during the 1960s. In Athens and other big cities, rich and bourgeois families started dressing their boys in clothes that had more joyous colors. The 1970s in Greece were very fashionable for the adults who chose to dress their children equally fashionable. Some boys wore bell bottoms or (fancy) jeams. Also at that time children started to wear more often sneakers and sport socks instead of dress socks. Boys during the 1980s wore a lot cotton sport uniforms, with matched trousers and tops during winter at school or jeans/cotlé trousers in semi-formal occasions.
The shoes were most of the time sneakers or other "made in Greece" leather shoes. The socks were mostly sport type. Blue jeans became the most popular item of clothing for boys during the winter and in shorts during summer. As boys become older they tend to abandon shorts in favor of jeans.
Nor do we have any information on early 20th century clothing.
Traditional clothing was still common in the countryside. Standard European styles were worn in the cities. Wese boys commonly wearing knee pants which were making the trnition to short pants. The boys here are wearing stylish summer suits. A hoty psnts sack suit nd a sailor suit (figure 1). The oldee boy weaes a boater. The younger boy a silor jat with a turned dien grim, a popular tyle in the 1910s.
The growing influence oi European styles has been especially true since World War I (1914-18). Large numbers of Greeks lived in what is now eastern Turkey under Ottomon rule. After World War I, Greece fought a war with Turkey to gain control over these areas. The war ended disastrously. Large numbers of extremely poor refugees from Asia Minor poured into Greece. We are talking about extremely poor people. Photographs taken at the time look like the worst of the Great Depression.
The 1930s was surprisingly a period of wealth and stability for Greece. It is often mockingly called belle epoque. The economy as in the rest of Europe was adversely affected affected by the world-wide depression. Sailor suits were still worn, but not asmuch as in earlier years. Boys from affluent families were dressed in the latest fashions, often looking rather like a well dressed boy in England or France. The poverty that still affected Greece, however, meant that many boys at this time could not dress very well. Uniforms were very popular with boys, both Scout uniforms and the uniforms of the new EON movement which was active in the 1930s. Most Greek boys in the 1930s commonly wore short pants, especially in rge waem summer months. Kneesocks were not as common as in the more northerly European countries. Many boys wore sandals or went barefoot.
The 1940s as in most of Europe were tumultuous times in Greece. Two things that one must consider when it come to boys clothing in Greece
during the 1940s is that climate and economics. The climate was (and still
is) very warm especially in the southern part of Greece. Greece was also a
very poor country at the time, as it struggled with the NAZI occupation (1941-44) and
the bloody civil war (1944-49). Elections return to Greece after the War, but were hotly contested. When the Communists failed to gain electoral victory, they began a bloody guerilla campaign that amounted to a Civil War. The economy which had been desvestated by World War II was further crippled by the Civil War. Most Greeks struggled to survive. There was little money available for basic clothing, let alone fashionalble garments. Children's clothes in particular were very basic. Boys wore very cheap and minimal clothing. It would be a pair of short pants, a shirt and a knitted sweater. Shoes and socks were optional during
the summer. (In general in Greece, boys tend to wear sandals during the
summer instead of shoes) Two expeptions to the rule were rich families, whose clothing styles were influenced from U.K. or France, and formal clothing at Sundays. People usually
saved their best clothing to wear for church on Sunday.
Immigration and urbanization were major trends in the 1950s. Economic conditions improved in Greece, but still lagged behind those prevalaent in Western Europe. The custom of boys wearing short pants up until about 14 years of age vontinued to be preavalent in Greece during the 1950s. But it was obvious that during these years people could afford some better clothing for their children. In general the clothing was the same but it was better in quality.
Big changes occured during the 1960s. In Athens and other big cities, rich
and bourgeois families started dressing their boys in clothes that had more
joyous colors. The boys still wore shorts most of the year, most of the days
and occasions but they had different colors (and not just plain grey or
blue). Their shirts also tended to have patterns on. Boys also switched to
white knee socks (instead of grey) or socks that were lower in height. But
as always boys rarely wore socks during the warm months. Since the 1960s, checked shirts have been very popular among boys (11-14 years).
The 1970s in Greece were very fashionable for the adults who chose to dress
their children equally fashionable. Some boys wore bell bottoms or (fancy)
overalls. Blue jeans also appeared in Greece during the 1970s. Bfore that
time blue jeans were almost unknown. I recall my parents saying that in a
80,000 populated city in Greece there was only one shop that used to sell
blue jeans in the mid 70s. Also at that time children started to wear more often sneakers and sport socks instead of dress socks.
Boys clothes during the 1980s became even more casual. Boys wore a lot cotton sport outfits, with matched trousers and tops during winter at school or jeans/cotlé trousers in semi formal occasions. The shoes were most of the time sneakers or other "made in Greece" leather shoes. The socks were mostly sport type. I also remember that knee-length tube socks were also popular at that time, although by the end of the decade ankle length athletic socks were more popular. They cane in both white and colored versions, but both with colored bands. During the summer all boys wore very short shorts, most of the times in the colors of their favorite soccer team and matched with a t-shirt of the same
color. Other logos could be seen on "T" shirts, but soccer team logos were the most popular. Short cut casual shorts were very popular in the 1980s, but with the exception if younger boys, few boys dressed up in short pants. Sneakers had become much more popular than sandals.
Blue jeans became the most popular item of clothing for boys during the
90's. A typical 10 year old boy would be seen in jeans during winter and in
shorts during summer. As boys become older they tend to abandon shorts in
favor of jeans.
Less boys wore shoes other than sneakers and for the first time Nike brand
is very fashionable. (Adidas was the only popular company from the west
during the 80s and before that time the only brands of sneakers were
strictly Greek). Also, it is almost rare to see a boy wearing dress socks.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[About Us]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Belgin pages:
[Return to the Main Greek chronology page]
[Greek choirs]
[Greek folk costumes]
[Greek movies]
[Greek royals]
[Greek schools]
[Greek youth groups]
