Figure 1.--There is an ample photographic record to draw on to show the different age boys wearing knickers. While most of the images do not specify afes, it is possible to approximate the ages of the boys involved. These boys look about 11-16 years ols. These three unidentified brothers from a well-off family wear winter overcoats, knicker suits, and long stockings. Notice the flat caps. The postcard back photo is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1910s.

Older boys wore both long pants and knickers. This varied from family to family. The choice was up to the parents. Some suits were sold with two pairs of pants, both long pants and knickers. We are not entirely sure how it was decided which pair of pants were worn for what occassion. Presumably the parents sent some guidelines here. Social class was a factor. By 16 years we believe that many of the boys wearing knickers were from relatively affluent families. School was also a factor. Many boys did not attend secondary schools refore World War II. Many of the boys wearing knickers at 16 years would have been boys still in school. We see quite old boys wearing knee pants in the 1900s, but knickers did not become prevlalent until the end of the decade. We see teenagers commonly wearing knickers throughout the 1910s. Gradually the age of boys wearing knickers declined. We see fewer older boys wearing knicker suits in the 1920s. We note that clothing catalogs in the 1920s show that knickers suits were still commonly made in size 16. And by the 1930s they were mostly worn by boys in primary (elementary) school, especially by the late-30s. Knickers rapidly went out of style in the 1940s.

Created: 11:58 PM 12/4/2009
Last updated: 11:58 PM 12/4/2009