Figure 1.--Here some boys are wearing a variety of sweaters and jackets for some outdoor activity in 1947. The sweaters seem to be pullovers. Some boys are also wearing flannel shirts. They are standing on a log bridge they have just built near Copake, New York..

Sweaters were popular garments in the 1940s. They were worn by both boys and girls, but seen more popular for boys perhaps because they were not very common for girls to wear withg dresses. At the beginning of the century boy wore suit jackets and sweaters were not all that common. That began to change in the 1910s and by the 1940s sweaters were still very common. And the popularity of suits was declining. Boys were wearing sweaters much more commnly than suits. Quite a few boys wore sweaters instread of a suit jacket, especially boy from the lower income spectrum. We see suits not only being worn when dressing up. Sweaters were wirn for a wide range of activities. With a tie, they could be rather formal. Without a ties they coukd be worn for a wide range of casual occassions. We see sweaters being worn for school, play, and many outdoor activities. The boys here are a good example (figure 1). A variety of styles were worn, pullovers with a variety of neck styles. Both sleeveless and sleeved styles were available. Cardigans were still popoular for boys. Cardigan were worn by older boys in highschool--the style to display letters won in athletics. Sweaters came in a wide variety of colors and patterns as well as solid-colored flat weaves. Sweaters were useful garments and very versatile. They can be worn for dressing up, school, play, and outdoorwear in chilly weather. The only problem for boys is that they are some times taken off when it warms up and thus can be easily lost

Prevalence

Sweaters were popular garments in the 1940s. We see many photograohs of boys wearing sweaters. It was a very common garmnent after the weather began to turn cool.

Seasonality

Sweaters were a sesinak garment which., Not that the trees had nit yet cime out in the New York photograph here (figure 1). This also meant that that they were more common in northern than southern states.

Gender

Sweaters were worn by both boys and girls, but seen more popular for boys perhaps because they were not very common for girls to wear with dresses. And in the 1940s girls still wore mnostly dresses and skirts. Dresses were the most common. We think girls wore sweters more commonly when wearing blouses and skirts.

Usage

Sweaters were useful garments and very versatile. They can be worn for dressing up, school, play, and outdoorwear in chilly weather. The only problem for boys is that they are some times taken off when it warms up and thus can be easily lost. At the beginning of the century boy wore suit jackets and sweaters were not all that common. That began to change in the 1910s and by the 1940s sweaters were still very common. And the popularity of suits was declining. Boys were wearing sweaters much more commnly than suits. Quite a few boys wore sweaters instread of a suit jacket, especially boy from the lower income spectrum. We see suits not only being worn when dressing up. Sweaters were wirn for a wide range of activities. With a tie, they could be rather formal. Without a ties they coukd be worn for a wide range of casual occassions. We see sweaters being worn for school, play, and many outdoor activities. The boys here are a good example (figure 1).

Styles

A variety of styles were worn, pullovers with a variety of neck styles. Both sleeveless and sleeved styles were available. Cardigans were still popoular for boys. Cardigan were worn by older boys in highschool--the style to display letters won in athletics.

Colors and Patterns

Sweaters came in a wide variety of colors and patterns as well as solid-colored flat weaves.

Created: April 9, 2004
Last updated: 6:43 AM 9/25/2020