Figure 1.--These unidentified brothers were photographed by F.A. Trader in Emporia, Kansas. The portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the early-1880s. The boys look about 10-13 years old which gives ua general idea when boys at that time, at least in this family, got their first long pants. There were often substantial differences among family as to these age conventions.

Age was a factor in the types of pants worn. The age of boys wearing long pants suit varied over time. At times virtually all boys wore long pants suits. And even when knee pants and knickers were popular, there were always some boys who wore long pants. Virtually all boys after breeching wore long pants in the early-19th century. The age of breeching varied from family to family, but boys as young as 3 years might wear long pants at the time. We begin to see shortened-lenth pants in the mid-19th century. Thus boys 3-4 years might wear these bloomer knickers and knee pants, but we see most boys wearing long pants by about 8 years of age, certsinly 10 years. There was a social-class factor to these shortemed-lengh suits which seem most populsr in the fashionaznle cities. Quite young boys wore long pants in rural areas. Knee pants became increasdingly popular in the late-19th century. By the 1890s we see quite old boys wearing knee pants, but even so there were some boys, especially in rural areas wearing long pants. After the turn-of-the 20th century, we see fewer younger boys wearing dresses, but they did not immediately wear long pants suits. Rather there were a range of juvenile outfits. Knickers began replacing knee pants in the 1900s, and were the dominant type of pants ikn the 1910s. Quite old boys wore knickers, but we see more and more older boys wearing long pants, especially by the 1920s. Knickers began going out of style in the 1930s and were mostly worn by pre-teens in the 30s. Some boys wore short pants suits, but by the 1940s, modt boys by age 10 years were wearing long pznys suits. Again social class was a factor. Some slightly older boys from affluent families might wear short pants suits. Long pants became increasingl popular in the 1950s. We see some younger boys wearing Eton suits to about age 7 or 8 years, but most boys swore long pants suits. This trend continued in the 1970s when short pants suits were mostly for pre-school boys. A major factor by this tome was the declining popularity of suits in general as boys increasingly wore casual styles.

Age 1 Year

Age was a factor in the types of pants worn. The age of boys wearing long pants suit varied over time. Very young boys in the 19th century wore dresses and other skirted garments. By the second half of the 20th century, most boys wore long pants, at least on a seasonal basis.

Age 3 Years

Virtually all boys after breeching wore long pants in the early-19th century. The age of breeching, however, varied from family to family, but boys as young as 3 years might wear long pants at the time. We begin to see shortened-lenth pants in the mid-19th century.

Age 4 Years

Many boys were breeched at age 4 years. Boys after breeching in the early-19th century wore long pants skeleton suits or tunics with long pnts. At mid-century we begin to see some boys at 3-4 years wearing these bloomer knickers and knee pants in fashionable citiies. Long pants seem more common until anout 1860 for these younger boys..

Age 5 Years

After the turn-of-the 20th century, we see fewer younger boys wearing dresses, but they did not immediately wear long pants suits. Rather there were a range of juvenile outfits. Knee pants suits were the most common. Knicker suits replaced knee pants in the 1910s and were the dominant type of pants in the 1910s. Short pants syuts appeared in the 1920s. Some parents would have younger boys wear short psnts suits rather than knee pants suits. We do not see 5 year olds commonly wearing long pants suits until the 1950s and short pants suits continuued to be common..

Age 6 Years

Most but notall boys in the 19th century were breeched by 6 years of age. A major factor here was this was the age boys began school and school attendance became increasingly common as the century progressed. After breeching they wore long pants suits in the early-19th century. Shortened length pants appeared in the mid-19th century. Boys at age 6 years from fashionble city families might wear these shortened-length suits. There was a social-class factor to these shortened-lengh suits which seem most popular in the fashionable cities, but rarely seen in rural areas. Quite young boys wore long pants in rural areas and even in the cities, many 6-year olds wore them. We continue seeing many 6-year olds wearing long pants suits in he 1870s, although at that age many boys also wore knee pants suits. Knee pants suits became quite common for 6-year olds in the 1880s. Even when knee pants became popular in the 1880s, there were always some boys who wore long pants, although this was not very common by the 1890s when knee pants became almost universal for boys. Knickers were dominant in the 1910s-20s. Boys at age 6 years commonly wore knicker suits in the 1910s, 20s, and 30s. Short pants suits were also wideky worn in the 1920s-30s. Suits were varied in the 1930s. We see some 6-year olds wearing long pants in the 1930s and they became dominant in the 1940s, although short pants suits were still worn.. Some boys wore short pants for seasonal summer wear. By the 1960s, more and more 6-year olds were wearing long pants syits, although we still see 6- and 7-year olds wearing short psnts suits. Most 6-year olds by the 1970s were wearing long psnts suits. And this cointinued for the rest of the century. These younger boys commonly wire short pants fir casual wear, but long pants suits when dressing up.

Age 8 Years

Boys at age 8 years wore long pants suits in the early-19th century. Shortened length pants appeared in the mid-19th century. Some 8-year olds wore them, but after age 8 they became much less common. There was a social-class factor to these shortened-lengh suits which seem most popular in the fashionable cities. Quite young boys wore long pants in rural areas. Knee pants became more common in the 1880s and nearly universal in the 1890s. Knickers were dominant in the 1910s-20s. We see some 9-year ols wearing long pants in the 1930s and they became dominant in the 1940s, although sjort pants suits were still worn.. Some boys wore short pants for seasonal summer wear.

Age 9 Years

Boys at age 9 years wore long pants suits in the early-19th century. Shortened length pants appeared in the mid-19th century. Not too many 9-year olds wore them, but after age 9 you see relatively few boys wearing them. Knee pants became more common in the 1880s and nearly universal in the 1890s even for younger teen agers. Knickers were dominant in the 1910s-20s. We see some 9-year old wearing long pants in the 1930s and they became dominant in the 1940s, although short pants suits were still worn. Some boys wore short pants for seasonal summer wear.

Age 10 Years

Boys at age 10 years wore long pants suits in the early-19th century. Shortened length pants appeared in the mid-19th century. Relatively few 10-year olds wore them, but after age 10 you rarely see boys wearing them. Knee pants became more common in the 1880s and nearly universal in the 1890s even for younger teenagers. Knicker suits were dominant in the 1910s-20s. We see some 9-year old wearing long pants in the 1930s and they became dominant in the 1940s, although short pants suits were still worn. Many mass market catalogs only offered short pants suits in sizes through age 10. Some boys wore short pants for seasonal summer wear, but short pants suits became much less common. Most boys wore long pants suits.

Age 11 Years

Boys at age 11 years wore long pants suits in the early-19th century. Shortened length pants appeared in the mid-19th century. Very few 11-year olds wore themm. Knee pants became more common in the 1880s, but many 11-year olds had long pants suits. And long pants suits became nearly universal for 11-year olds in the 1890s. This was less true in rural areas, but even there they were common. Knicker suits were dominant in the 1910s-20s. We see some 10-year old wearing long pants in the 1930s, especially by the end of the decade. Long pants suits were dominant in the 1940s. Some 11-year olds from affluent families might wear short pants suits. Many mass market catalogs did not offer short psants suits in sizes above age 10. Some boys wore short pants for seasonal summer wear, but most boys wore long pants suits.

Age 13 Years

Boys at age 13 years wore long pants suits in the early-19th century. Shortened length pants appeared in the mid-19th century, but were not worn by 13-year olds. We do not see younger teen-agers wearing knee pants suits until the 1890s. This was less true in rural areas, but even there they were common. Knicker suits were dominant in the 1910s-20s. We see many 13-year old wearing long pants in the 1930s, especially by the end of the decade. Long pants suits were dominant in the 1940s. Some boys wore short pants for seasonal summer wear, but almost all 13-year olds wore long pants suits.

Created: 11:49 PM 11/5/2009
Last updated: 11:49 PM 11/5/2009