Informal

As a child brought up in the 80's for every day use I usually wore jeans,cord trousers or track-suit bottoms. They all very comfortable and I never minded wearing them. On top I wore t-shirts,Jumpers and informal shirts.

Most Irish boys in the 1980s wore the same informal clothes ie. tracksuits,jeans and t-shirts.Formal most boys wore either tie and jacket or waistcoat and bow-tie.

As we were quite well off my mother would spend a lot of money on my clothes and she didn't like it when I came home covered in mud after playing football. Colour wise I prefered darker colours while my mother prefered more colourful colours. Up till about 12 I really let my mother get her own way on my clothes as I didn't really mind as I was more interested in playing with my friends and Action man figures.

School

In the winter we wore black blazer, white shirt, green and white tie, black trousers and shoes. In the summer same exept we wore shorts.

Scouts

I was a Cub scout, we wore a green shirt,grey cord trousers and a green and red scarf.

Choir

Altar Boy

Formal

Their were certain occasions in my childhood each year that which I h2wwas made to dress up.I have to say until I was about 12 years oId. I liked dressing up and even after that I didn't mind dressing up the odd time. At Christmas until I was 12 I would wear a waist-coat and bow tie with black trousers and black formal shoes.I have to say I didn't really mind mainly because everyone always said how smart I looked and I got lots of attention. Nearly every year I would get a new suit a few weeks before Christmas. The suit would usually be worn then at special occasions through out that year. The other times I was made dress up were usually birthdays, weddings and when my granny came to stay from England.

My granny when she came over always wanted us dreesed up and used to by us clothes. I remember staying with one time when I was 8 and she had got my this very formal suit which I had to wear. It consisited of white shirt with a purple waist-coat, black silky knee-pants and white knee stockings. I have to say I never made a fuss when I was made to wear fancy clothes this was mainly besause I didn't mind and the rest of my family also dressed up.

Page Boy Experiences

I was a page-boy four times when I was 5,8,9 and 12 years old. The first two times I really enjoyed mainly as they were held the other end of the country so none of my friends knew me and I got to stay in a Hotel, which for some reason I found to be a bit of a treat. The first two times I really enjoyed it as it was all very exciting and new and every one fussed over me. The third time I had to get dressed in my house and a few of my friends saw me and lets just say they teased me a bit. I was a bit older the forth time but I still enjoyed it.

Velvet kneepants

My first page-boy suit consisted of a black velvet hat, white shirt, pink bow-tie and cumberland, black velvet knee pants, white stockings up to my knees and black shoes. My hat was like an artists hat with a black velvet bow on top. I wore an normal shirt with an normal collar. On my velvet pants on each side there was a black bow. I wore black sandals and my stockings were silk I think. I remember everybody telling me how lovely I looked.I remember liking the feel of my velvet hat and pants but I didn't want to hold the bridesmaids hand.

The first two times I really enjoyed mainly as they were held the other end of the country so none of my friends knew me and I got to stay in a Hotel, which for some reason I found to be a bit of a treat. Some older girl said that I looked cute. The adults mainly said I looked hansom or that I was lovely looking.I can't really remember but I think they said something like I was mummies boy and mocked me by saying I looked cute.

Sailor suits

The second time I wore a sailor suit which I actually really liked and I thought I looked good in it.The suit consisted of blue sailor hat, blue and white suit with blue knee pants and white stockings. My headgear was a English sailors hat which has a strap that went under my chin. I wore black formal shoes with the suit. I wore my sailor suit on a few other occasions (such my birthday) as I was aloud to keep it but I didn't wear it at another wedding.

Renaissance costume

My third page boy outfit was sort of an renaissance suit. It was by far the most formal and I wore gold sandals with that suit. I wore a white silk shirt, white cravat, red velvet jacket, goldish colour silk knee-pants and white stockings. I'm not sure on the collar names but on my third suit it was sort of frilly like from the Renaissance.

I remember I was very hot in church. I also remember being a bit embarassed about the costume as it was so fancy. Unlike the first two times, this wedding was held at a local church. Some of my friends saw me in my costume and had great fun in teasing me about it. I can't really remember all of the things they said, but it was things like "mummies boy" and "cissy pants". THey mocked me by saying I looked "soooo cute".

Military uniform

My final time being a page-boy I wore sort of a soldier suit. I wore a black and red top with brass buttons down the centre, Black trousers with a red stripe, black formal shoes and white formal gloves. The jacket had tailcoats and was covered in brass buttons.

Overall I would have to say I enjoyed being a page-boy.