Figure 1.--Here we have a colorized photographed of two boys, presumably boyhers, on a family vacation along the coast, although we have nomidea just where, p;erhaps maine. The photograph was probably taken in the earl-3ps. Notice the colorgulmknee socks. The boys look tio be about 8-11 years old.

Knickers appeared in the mid-19th century, but were not very common in America until the 20th century. It was knee panrs that were mostly worn in America. And this continued after the turn-of-the 20th century into the 1900s decade. Then suddenly about 1908 we suddenly see knickers. We have no idea why. In just a year or two we see American boys mostly wearing knickers. Knee pants which American boys had worn vfor decades, suddemnly went out of style. Instraad boys wore knickers. And kniclers were the dominant form of pants American boys wore in the 1010s and 20s. Theu were also very common in tghe 1930s but beghan to decline in popularity. We still see knickers in the 1940s, but they were becoming increasingly less common. The cut of kniclers varied over time. We see baggy plus-fous in the 1020s. Knee pants tended to be more trimly cut which is why they were called straight-leg kneepoants , contrastinhg them with knickers. Unlike Europe where short pants were more common, Americam boys wore knickers--even Boy and Cub Scouts wore them. Through the early 1920s they were mostly worn with long stockings, but by the mid-1920s, kneesocks like wev see here had become more popular (figure 1). The age of boys wearing knickers varied substantially over time. Although knickers had once been pervasive for boys, they declined in popularity very quickly in the early-1940s. It is unclear to HBC just why this major fashion shift occurred so abruptly. Knickers passed from the boys' fashion scene aburptly in the early-1940s, apparently a casualty of the War. The popularity of knickers were declining even before the War, but essentially disappered during the War.

Early 20th Century (1900-18)

Knickers did not become popular as a boys' garment in America until after the turn-of-the 20th century. Knee pants were commonly worn by boys in the late-19th century and this conginued after the turn-of-the century. Even through the 1900s, knee pants were more common than knickers we do begin the see boys wearing knickers. American boys did not begin to wear knickers extensively until the late-1900s when knickers began to reclace knee pants. Knickers in America became almost universal for boys in the 10s. This was a fashion shift that did not occur in Europe. Until this development there was considerable similarity between American and European (especially British) boys' fashions. We are unsure at this time just why America and Europe diverged at this time. Knickers-like breeches ere adopted by the new U.S. Scout movement rather than hort pants which Scouts in other countries wore. Knickers by the 1910s were the dominate style for boys. They were widely worn by even older boys of highschool age. A good example of an American boy wearing knickers is Grant Fahvenbach who had his First Communion portrait taken about 1910. Not all boys wore knickers. Many younger boys wore knee pants outfits. Tunics were still popular and worn with vloomer knickers. Older boys wore long pants, but this varied from family to family.

Inter-war and War Years (1919-45)

Most American boys wore knickers in the 1920s. Knee pants were still worn by younger boys in the eraly 1920s, but by the mid 1920s had almost totally been relaced by short pants or knickers. Quite old boys were wearing knickers in 1920, but the age boys began wearing long pants declined during the decade. Knickers were still widely worn in the 1930s, but mostly by younger elementary school boys, less commonly in highschool. Knickers soon became the major attire worn by American boys. School-age boys in America between the two world wars wore knicker suits. Knickers were the dominate trousers for American boys in the 1920s and 30s. Unlike Europe where short pants were more common, Americam boys wore knickers--even Boy and Cub Scouts wore them. Through the early 1920s they were mostly worn with long stockings, but by the mid-1920s, knee socks had become more popular. The age of boys wearing knickers varied substantially over time.

Post-war Year (1945- )

Although knickers had once been pervasive for boys, they declined in popularity very quickly in the early-1940s. It is unclear to HBC just why this major fashion shift occurred so abruptly. Knickers passed from the boys' fashion scene aburptly in the early-1940s, apparently a casualty of the War. The popularity of knickers were declining even before the War, but essentially disappered during the War. We still see them in 1942, but not very commomly by 1945. We see this in the popular mail order catalogs. Wards and Sears catalogues for the 1940-45 period show just how quickly knickers disappeared from the clothing scene. A persusal of a Wards or Sears catalog as late as 1940 and 41 will show a wide variety of knickers and knicker suits. Catalogs by 1945 rarely show knickers. This is another example of the sometimes unforseen impact of war and social upheaval on fashion. Disappeared may be slightly too strong a word. Knickers were no longer an important fashion choice for boys. I was born in 1943 and do not recall ever seeing them. And they are notably absent from the photographic record, but we do see an occadional boy wearing knickers in the post-war era, mostly the late 1940s.

Created: 10:52 PM 1/29/2021
Last updated: 10:52 PM 1/29/2021