Figure 1.--These brothers wear identical Norfolk suits suits with knicker pants and long stockings. Unfortunatly the portrait is undated. We think it was probably taken in the early-1920s or mid-20s. We might have said the 1910s, but the low-cut oxford shoes look more like the 1920s to us. And bos mostly wore patterened knee socks in the 30s.

American boys mostly wore long pants in the 19th century, although knee pants became very common in the 1890s. We see bloomer knickers during the mid-19th century, but we do not see knickers being worn very commonly. Knickers gradually became more important after the turn of the 20th century. Knee pany were still quite common in the 1900s, but by the 1910s knickers had become the most common type of pants worn by American boys. We see most school age boys wearing thm up to about 15 years of age, but this varied from family to family. Knee pants went out of style and short pants appeared after World War I, but knickers were more popular for school-age boys. There were social class and regional differences. Knickers were still very common in the 1920s, but grdually it became less common for olders boys to wear them. This trend continued in the 1930s when we see ore boys wearing long pants. It was less common for teenagers to wear knickers in the 30s. Knicers very rapidly went out of style in the 1940s. We notice knicker suits being worn with dfferent acket styles. There were many different colors and batterns. Some boys had a conservatve navy blue or black suit. Some suits came with two pairs of pants--sometimes shorts and knickers, other times knickers and long pants. Hosiery varied. American boys mostly wore knickers with first long stockings and then kneesocks. Black long stockings were very common. Knee socks were often patterned, frequenly loud patterns. We note some boys, however, in the 1930s wearing knickers with ankle socks--especially during the Summer. This was less common with knicker suits, but as you can see here not unknown. The notice various styles of knickers. There were variations in length, fullness, and closures.

Chronology

American boys mostly wore long pants in the 19th century, although knee pants became very common in the 1890s. We see bloomer knickers during the mid-19th century, but we do not see knickers being worn very commonly. Knickers gradually became more important after the turn of the 20th century. Knee pany were still quite common in the 1900s, but by the 1910s knickers had become the most common type of pants worn by American boys. We see most school age boys wearing thm up to about 15 years of age, but this varied from family to family. Knee pants went out of style and short pants appeared after World War I, but knickers were more popular for school-age boys. There were social class and regional differences. Knickers were still very common in the 1920s, but grdually it became less common for olders boys to wear them. This trend continued in the 1930s when we see ore boys wearing long pants. It was less common for teenagers to wear knickers in the 30s. Knicers very rapidly went out of style in the 1940s. Here a factor may have been the War and the need to us fabric more efficently.

Ages

Boys wore knickers suits from about 5-years of age to the teen years. This varied over time. We first see large numbers of boys wearing knickers in the 1910s. Boys commonly wore knee pants in the 1900s and by the end of the decade we see boys wearing both knee pantrs and knickers. We see teenagers in high school wearing them in the 1910s. This was essentially the same age range as the boys wearing knee pants in the 1900s, perhaps a slight drop in age. We are still devrloping information on sage at this time. Older boys wore both long pants and knickers. 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 occassioin. Gradually the age of boys wearing knickers declined. We see fewer olderboys wearing knicker suits in the 1920s. And by the 1930s they were mostly worn by boys in primary (elementary) school), especially by the late 30s. Knickers went out of style in the 1940s.

Fabric

There were many different colors and batterns. Some boys had a conservatve navy blue or black suit.

Two Pants Suits

Some suits came with two pairs of pants--sometimes shorts and knickers, other times knickers and long pants.

Accompanying Clothes

Knickers were mostly worn during the 1910s-30s. During that period a variery of garments were commoinly worn with knicker suits. Probably the most desinctive was the flat cap. In fact the period of popularity for both garments were almost identical. Both were symbolic of the first decaded of the 20th century. The flat cap was not the only headwear worn with knicker suits, but it was by far the most common. We note neckties and to a lesser extent bow ties. We notice a variety of collars. Detachavkle collars, including Eton cillars were popular in the early 20th century, but were much less common by the 1930s. Hosiery also varied. American boys mostly wore knickers with first long stockings and then kneesocks. Black long stockings were very common. Knee socks were often patterned, frequenly loud patterns. We note some boys, however, in the 1930s wearing knickers with ankle socks--especially during the Summer. This was less common with knicker suits, but not unknown. We notice both high-top shoes and low-cut oxfords, but rarely sandals.

Created: 4:00 AM 12/14/2005
Last updated: 12:02 AM 3/7/2014