Figure 1.--Self-belted shorts sets were a popular stule in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Knickers were still worn in the early 1950s, but they were not very common. American boys in the early 1950s still wore shorts, although much younger boys than in Europe. But short ants were rapidly going out of fashion and most boys pestered their parents if not inisted on long pants. Television was a good indicator here. There were early TV shows wear boy actors wore short pants. By the mid-1950s, however, child actors never appeared in short pants for their screen roles. The younger boys wearing shorts continued to wear shorter cut shorts, while knee-length shorts were considered more appropriate for older boys. Shorts were, however, beginning to become regarded as summer wear. Some boys would wear shorts even when it was chilly enough for a sweater. Older boys, however, increasingly wanted long pants, especially during the winter and most parents acquiesed. Many styles of short pants were no longer available in larger sizes. Summer shorts were available in larger sizes up to 12 or 13 years. Around mid-decade in fact, short pants known as Bermudas began to appear on U.S. college campuses in the spring. They were available in chinos, searsucker, Madras and othe fabrics. The popularity of shorts as leisure wear had begun. A new fashion appeared for little boys at mid decade. The shorts worn by younger boys were still often suspender shorts. This was especially true of dress shots, such as the ones worn with Eton suits.

World War II

We are not yet fully sure just how World War II affected children's fashions. We do know that many servicemen wore jeans as part of fatigue uniforms. Thus returning service had grown acustomed to them as comfortable casual wear. Before the war, jens or overalls were commonlyworn in rural areas, but noy in urban areas. fter the War, jeans became common for boys in urban areas as well. World War II also helped introduce chinos, a type of militry trousers. We also note that many servicemen, especially those involved in the Pacific War and in the fighting in Burma wore shorts. Not as extensively as the British, but it was common. As many veterans used the GI Bill to go to college, this may have been a factor in the developing popularity of Bermuda shorts on college campuses. World War II was the first time we have noted American men wearing short pants to any extent.

Child Rearing

We suspect, however, that the more important impact was on child raising approaches. Many women were involved in the war effort, including mothers working in war plants. It is less clear to us the impact of military service on men. What we do know is that the Baby Boom parents after the War took a much more permisive approach to child raising. This meant that children had much more say in their lives than ever before and this included their clothes. For the most part American boys wanted long pants and got them.

Conventions

American boys began extensively weaing shorts as casul summer wear in the 1940s. Some boys had short pants suits for dressing up, but by the 1950s this was increasingly younger boys. Especially the late 1950s, shorts had become primarily summer casual wear.

Lengths

Most boys wore long or short pants, but a few boys wore knickers in the early 1950s.

Knickers

Knickers were still worn in the early 1950s, but they were not very common. I grew up in the 1940s and 50s and do not recall seeing knickers which means that they were not very common. I have noted, however, photogrphs taken in the late 1940s and early 50s showing that they had not entirely disappeared.

Short pants

American boys in the early 1950s still wore shorts, although much younger boys than in Europe. But short ants were rapidly going out of fashion and most boys pestered their parents if not inisted on long pants. Television was a good indicator here. There were early TV shows wear boy actors wore short pants. By the mid-1950s, however, child actors never appeared in short pants for their screen roles. The younger boys wearing shorts continued to wear shorter cut shorts, while knee-length shorts were considered more appropriate for older boys. Shorts were, however, beginning to become regarded as summer wear. Some boys would wear shorts even when it was chilly enough for a sweater. Older boys, however, increasingly wanted long pants, especially during the winter and most parents acquiesed. Many styles of short pants were no longer available in larger sizes. Summer shorts were available in larger sizes up to 12 or 13 years. Around mid-decade in fact, short pants known as Bermudas began to appear on U.S. college campuses in the spring. They were available in chinos, searsucker, Madras and othe fabrics. The popularity of shorts as leisure wear had begun. A new fashion appeared for little boys at mid decade. The shorts worn by younger boys were still often suspender shorts. This was especially true of dress shots, such as the ones worn with Eton suits.

Long pants

GI's returning from the Second World War in the 1940s had, brought back jeans. It was not long before boys were asking form them. At the time they were called dungarees. Boys wanted them to play in. Many boys much preferred them to short pants for play. Jeans were worn during the summer and then for the winter flannel kined jeans were available that showed at the cuff. While many mothers insisted on shorts. Short pants were more common in some areas such as the South and California. Older boys did generally not wear shorts, even for casual wear in the 1940s or 50s. By the 1950s almost all American boys were wearing jeans for play and any where that they were allowed to wear them. Public elementary schools generally allowed boys to wear jeans. Secondary schools did not. Chinos were commonly worn for school. They were called chinos because they were made from a khaki material made in Manchester and exported to China. The whiley Chinese, however, began selling the fabric to Americans stationed in the Philippines during the 1930s. The Aericans thus reffered to the material and pants made from it as chinos. These comfortable trousers have become summer classics for boys and young adults. Chinos in the mid-1950s, for some reason, came with a little ornamental belt at the back.

Sources

William Graebner, Coming of Age in Buffalo (about 1990).

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Created: December 9, 2003
Last updated: December 9, 2003