Figure 1.--These unidentified Americn boys wear identical knee pant suits. The portrait is undated, but looks to be taken about 1905. Note the black long stockings. White whicker furnitiure in studio portraits is a good indicator of the early-1900s decade. We see whicker furniture in the 1890s, but it was natural color, not painted white.

American boys continued to commonly wear knee pants in the 1900s. We see almost all boys and many teenagers wearing knee pants during the decade. Many school portraits show all the boys wearing knee pants, many as part of suits. This was the case in cities and towns. Rural schools were more varied. Here the younger boys might wear knee pants, but not the older boys and in some areas not even the younger boys. A good example of this is the Mount Thorp School in 1902. Older boys wearing knee pants was most common at the turn-of-the 20th century. Almost all boys wore knee pants, even some older teenagers during the 1900s. The peak era for knee pants was the 1890s and 1900s. We even see boys in rural areas commonly wearing knee pants in the 1900s, although there most older boys wore long pants. Knee pants for older boys were much more of a city fashion in the 1890s and the 1900s. They were worn both with suits as well as for play and casual wear. Knee pants continued to be worn at knee level as was the style that became prevalent in the 1890s. Most boys wore knee pants to school in the 1900s. A good example is Harry Lodge about 1908. Some boys wore knickers, but knee pants were much more common until the end of the decade. As common as knee pants were in the 1900s, it is surprising how rapidly they were replaced by knickers. Styles changed dramatically in the late-1900s, about 1908. While many boys began wearing knickers at the end of the decade, we note that boys continued to wear black long stockings wih both knee pants and knickers. Younger boys often conyinued wearing knee pants, often with white three-quarter socks or even long stockings when dressing up. While most boys wore long stockings, we do see many boys going barefoot with knee pants during the summer. A good example is the boys in a Texas family about 1905. This seems most common in the South and in rural areas.

Prevalence

American boys continued to commonly wear knee pants in the 1900s. Most boys wore knee pants to school in the 1900s. We see almost all boys and many teenagers wearing knee pants during the decade. Many school portraits show all the boys wearing knee pants, many as part of suits. This was the case in cities and towns.

Rural Areas

Rural schools were more varied. Here the younger boys might wear knee pants, but not the older boys and in some areas not even the younger boys. Mail order catalogs brought fashion to the frontier and rural areas, but there were still real differences between how people in rural areas and urban areas dressed. This was especially the case for men and boys. Women and girls seemed more atuned to fashion and perhaps less involved in hard outdoor work and chores. A good example of this is the Mount Thorp School in 1902. Notice thst this was not a farming area, but more of a logging area. The image is a little unclear, but as far as we can tell all the boys here are wearing long pants except for the youngest boy. And only one boy wears overalls. We do not see mny overalls in farming areas until late in the decade, about 1908. We are notv sure when fsrmrs began wearing overalls, but boys in farming sreas do not seem to be commonly wearing them until late in the decsade. We see overalls earlier, but motly we see them in factory and Western mining areas. Logging areas may also be another exception. This was in sharp contrast to urban areas where knee pants were the standard dress.

Ages

Older boys wearing knee pants was most common at the turn-of-the 20th century. Almost all boys wore knee pants, even some older teenagers during the 1900s.

Chronological Trends

The peak era for knee pants was the 1890s and 1900s. We even see boys in rural areas commonly wearing knee pants in the 1900s, although there most older boys wore long pants. Knee pants for older boys were much more of a city fashion in the 1890s and the 1900s.

Usage

Knee pants were worn both with suits as well as for play and casual wear. A good example of a knee pants suit is the worn by Harry Lodge about 1908.

Length

Knee pants when they first appeared were worn at calf level. This began to cgange in the 1880s abnd by the 1890s, knee level had become standard. Knee pants continued to be worn at knee level as was the style that became prevalent in the 1890s.

Transition to Knickers (About 1908)

Some boys wore knickers in the 19th century, but not very many. The standard style of pants for boys was knee pants. The only important exception was the bloomer knickers that boys wore with the tunic suits thst became popular at the tutn of the 20th century. And knee pants continued to be popular in the 1900s until the very end of the decade. As common as knee pants were in the 1900s, it is surprising how rapidly they were replaced by knickers. Styles changed dramatically in the late-1900s, about 1908. We have no idea why such a major shift in boyswear occurred at this time and took hold so rapidly.

Hosiery

While many boys began wearing knickers at the end of the decade, we note that boys continued to wear black long stockings with both knee pants and knickers. Younger boys often conyinued wearing knee pants, often with white three-quarter socks or even long stockings when dressing up.

Barefeet

While most boys wore long stockings, we do see many boys going barefoot with knee pants during the summer. A good example is the boys in a Texas family about 1905. This seems most common in the South and in rural areas. What we do not fully understand is that boys going barefoot was also common in the 19th century, but we rarely see it in studio portraits. Children almost alays put on their shoes to have their portraits taken. Sudenly in the 1900s and 1910s we see children, especially boys, barefoot not just in snapshots, but when sitting for formal studio portraits.

Created: 6:57 PM 1/30/2009
Last updated: 2:25 PM 10/22/2018