Figure 1.-- Here we see four unidentifed boys, all wearing knickers and long stockings. The boys look about 15-16 years of age. The postcard portrait undated, but we would guess was taken about 1910. The photograph is interesting because they look like working-class boys who are not in school. This shows how pervasive knee pants and knickers had become in the early-20th century.

It was very common for American boys, includung 15 year old boys to wear knee pants in the 1900s. It was not universal, but it was common. This varied chronologically. And so did knickers which we begin seeing in the late-1900s decade. Earlier Knickers were not common in the United States. And we continue to see 15 year olds wearing knickers in the 1910s. It was very common in high school, although many boys did not continiue their education after primary scjool in the 1900s. Families varied and we also see 15 year olds wearing long pants in the 1910s. We note boys from all social classes wearing knickers. This included working-class families. Even some boys after leaving school wore knickers. This was quite common in the 1900s when boys also wore knee pants. Here we see boys who look to be 15-16 years old about 1910 (figure 1). A reader thinks the portrait was taken a little later. He writes, "I think the date is more like 1919-22. Notice the soft collar and narrow spread. Also the turtle neck sweaters kook a bit later than 1910 to me. I would say that it is at least post-World War I. You are certainly correct about the long black stockings, however. They continued to be worn into the 1920s even though lighter shades were beginning to be more popular." The photograph is interesting because they look like working-class boys who are not in school. This shows how pervasive knee pants and knickers had become in the early-20th century. Older boys wearing knickers began to decline in the 1910s, but was still common in the 1900s and early-1910s. We notice a knickers suit in 1925 made up to age 15. We note a pattern for a reefer coat made in sizes 8-14 years. It is shown with knickers, although I'm not sure the pattern included the knickers. By the 1920 knickers many boys were getting long pants at about 14 years of age. But we still see 15 year olds wearing knickers.

The 1900s

It was very common for American boys, includung 15 year old boys to wear knee pants in the 1900s. It was not universal, but it was common. This varied chronologically. And so did knickers which we begin seeing in the late-1900s decade. Earlier Knickers were not common in the United States. Ans when knickers appeared, the same age conventions established for knee pants continued tp prevail for knickers. This can be followed in some detail in the school records we have collected.

The 1910s

And we continue to see 15 year olds wearing knickers in the 1910s. The 1910s wre the firast decade in which American boys commonly wore knickers. It was very common in high school, although many boys did not continiue their education after primary scjool in the 1900s. Families varied and we also see 15 year olds wearing long pants in the 1910s. We note boys from all social classes wearing knickers. This included working-class families. Even some boys after leaving school wore knickers. This was quite common in the 1900s when boys also wore knee pants. Here we see boys who look to be 15-16 years old about 1910 (figure 1). A reader thinks the portrait was taken a little later. He writes, "I think the date is more like 1919-22. Notice the soft collar and narrow spread. Also the turtle neck sweaters kook a bit later than 1910 to me. I would say that it is at least post-World War I. You are certainly correct about the long black stockings, however. They continued to be worn into the 1920s even though lighter shades were beginning to be more popular." The photograph is interesting because they look like working-class boys who are not in school. This shows how pervasive knee pants and knickers had become in the early-20th century. Older boys wearing knickers began to decline in the late-1910s, but was still common in the 1900s and early-1910s. This can be followed in some detail in the school records we have collected.

The 1920s

The age of boys wearing knickers declined in the the 1920s. The primary change is that we no longer see many older teens wearing them. We noticed 15 year olds wearing knickers, but not nearly as many as in the 1910s. And they were still fairly common for younger teens. We notice Sears offering knickers suits in 1925 made up to age 15 years. We note a pattern for a reefer coat made in sizes 8-14 years. It is shown with knickers, although I'm not sure the pattern included the knickers. By the 1920 knickers many boys were beginning to get long pants at about 14 years of age and many high school boys were asking for them. We still see some 15 year olds wearing knickers in the 1920s in the photographic record. Of course many photographs do not have ages indicated and we can only estimate, but have found dated images to help confirm age trends. This can be followed in some detail in the school records we have collected.

The 1930s

Knickers by the 1930s had primarily become pants for primary (elemenarty) age boys. Some younger teens may have worn then in the early-30s, but it was no longer very common. And by the the mid-30s, younger teens were no longer wearing them, and e habe not found any examples of 15-year olds. We even see many preimary-age childen wearing long pants. This is confirmed by the school portraits we have collected. This can be followed in some detail in the school records we have collected.

Created: 8:51 PM 11/26/2009
Last updated: 2:56 PM 10/21/2018