Figure 1.--Spain was a major European power as Eyrope emerged from the medieval era. It expelled the Jews and Muslims upon completion of the Reconquista (1492). A combination of the Inquisition and the Counter-Reformation suceeded in keeping modern ideas like the Enlightenment from Spain. As a result Spain along with Portugal entered the modern era as the most backward country in Western Europe and in a related development, the poorest. As a result, much of Spain as late as the 1950s looked more like Latin America than Western Europe. Here we see a villigae scene in the 1950s. It is captioned Moorish village, but the boys do not look Muslim. A reader comments, "Actually many Latin American countries, like Chile, Argentina or Uruguay, where far more advanced and moderns than Spain." We think our reader is correct about the Southern Cone. I am more familiar with Mexico, Central America, and the Andean countries. Both Argentina and Urguuay were on the cusp of becoming developed countries before they began adopting destructive socialist policies.

Spanish boys began to commonly wore knee pants in the 1870s. Sailor suits were a popular 19th century style that continued into the 20th century. Knee pants were the primary dress of Spanish boys in the late 19th century. Spanish boys continued wearing kneepants in the 1900s. Knickers and short pants became increasingly common in the 1910s. Spanish boys by the 1920s were wearing short panrs, knickers, and long pants. Short pants were very commn in the 1920s and 30s, but I am unsure as to the relative popularity of these styles. By the 1930s boys commonly wore short pants and many boys wore smocks to school. As a result of years of decline and the disatrous Civil War (1937-39), poverty was widespread. Boys continued wearing short pants in the 1940s and 50s, although sailor suits passed from fashion--except for First Communion. Boys began to dress less formally in the 1960s, especially the second half of the decade when jeans began to be more commonly worn. After the 1960s short pants became much less common as most boys wanted to wear jeans. The American influence became increasingly evident. By the 1980s most Spanish children were wearing the pan-European styles of jeans, running pants, sweatshirts, and sneakers.

Late 19th Century

Spanish boys began to commonly wore kneepants in the 1870s. Sailor suits were a popular 19th century style that continued into the 20th century. Kneepants were the primary dress of Spanish boys in the late 19th century.

Early 20th Century (1900-19)

Spanish boys continued wearing kneepants in the 1900s. Knickers and short pants became increasingly common in the 1910s.

Inter-war and Civil War Era (1920-45)

Spanish boys by the 1920s were wearing short panrs, knickers, and long pants. Short pants were very commn in the 1920s and 30s, but I am unsure as to the relative popularity of these styles. By the 1930s boys commonly wore short pants and many boys wore smocks to school. As a result of years of decline and the disatrous Civil War (1937-39), poverty was widespread. Clothing, especially children's clothing was the last thing on most people�s minds, certainly the poor dressed in the most simple and useful clothes available.

Post-war Era (1945-69)

Boys continued wearing short pants in the 1940s and 50s, although sailor suits passed from fashion--except for First Communion. Boys began to dress less formally in the 1960s, especially the second half of the decade when jeans began to be more commonly worn. A French reader reports, "Before 1960, Spain was not a tourist region. It was not easy to travel there. General Franco ran a closed dictatorship. The police ( Guadia Civil ) were very strict and the country was poor. We needed a passport to visit this country. I visited Spain several times in the early 1960s and I recall very well that the children were well dressed. In the cities the children were clean and almost all rather well dressed. Boys till 6-8 years old in Madrid and others big cities were smarty dressed in white short pants suits, not quite so juvenil as the French boy were. Even their shoes were white. Most wore short pants, but not as so short as those boys wore in France. Some little boys wore short cut short pants like the French ones. The older boys wore knee-length short pants, unknown at the time in France. French boys wore either short cut shorts or long trousers, but knee-length shorts were not common. I also noted that the chidren in cities were perhaps poor but always clean. On Sunday in Spain some little boys had even not far to have a tuch of petit gar�on mod�le. The same thing was true in rural villages, especialy in the evening where it was a tradition to walk around the village square in nice clothes. In contrary the farmers wore wearing ugly and old garments. All the girls wore short and childish dresses. The Spanish people appeared to be poor but proud and seemed to give great attention to their children. It was common to see in the street some parent cuddling or kissing their children which was also common in Italy or France. This is much less common in other European countries."

Late 20th Century

After the 1960s short pants became much less common as most boys wanted to wear jeans. The American influence became increasingly evident. By the 1980s most Spanish children were wearing the pan-European styles of jeans, running pants, sweatshirts, and sneakers.

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Created: October 15, 2002
Last updated: 4:41 AM 5/19/2017