Iceland: Boys' Garments


Figure 1.--This Icelandic family portrait was taken during World War II (1942). Two brothers are about 5-7 years old. The older boy wears a white shirt and black tie, a black sleeveless sweater, black short trousers, and black long stockings (obviously worn with supporters and a garter waist). His little brother has on a pullover turtle-neck sweater, perhaps gray, dark short pants, and beige long stockings. These are probably school clothes. Icelandic fashions tended to be influenced by Scandinavian styles. Long stockings were common for schoolboys through the 1940s in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway--and also in Finland. Of course long stockings and the necessary supporters to hold them in place were prominently advertised in the United States, especially in mail order catalogs such as Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Ward during the the 1930s, but declined in popularity during the 40s. The boys seem to be a bit blinded by the sun. The older boy's affection for his junior sibling is obvious.

We have little information about Icelandic boys clothing at this time. Our Icelanhdic archive is very limited. We believe that clothing styles were similar to Scandinavia, especially Denmark. Warm garments like sweaters and lonstokings hjave been widely worn. We do not know if there are any destinctive Icelandic fashions, although climate has had an impact on clothing and fashion. The few images we have see shows the kids dressed much like children in Scandanavia, although our archive is very limited. Hopefully Icelandic readers will provide some information about their country.







HBC






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Created: 12:45 PM 8/3/20139
Last updated: 12:45 PM 8/3/2013