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Suits declined in popularity during the 1930s. While they were still widely worn, fewer boys were wearing them than in the 1920s. And this trend continued in the 1940s. Single-breasted suits had become increasingly popular in the 1930s, although we still see some double-breasted suirs. Three-piece suits with vests were much less common. We see short pants, knickers, and long pants suits offered in catalogs and avrtising by 1940. The nix of these different types of suits had changed quite a bit in the 1930s. Most suits for school-age boys were long pants suits by 1940. Sears was still offering knicker suits in 1940. And there were some short pants suits for younger boys. Here there were social class differences. We still see some boys wearing Eton collars. We notice a Brooks Brother's magazine adverisement for primary (elementary school) school suits and shirts. We still see some boys wearing Eton collars. We notice a Brooks Brother's magazine adverisement for primary (elementary school) school suits and shirts. Brook's Brothers was a high end retailer of men and boys' clothing. The main store was in New York, but they by 1940 had stores in Boston, Los angeles, and San Francisco. We see quite a few Brooks Brothers magazine ads. These would presumably be be mostly for boys attending private school. By the 1940s, boys were no longer wearing suits at public elementary schools with a few exception. Parents had several options. We notice both Eton suis for younger boys in elementary school. Lapel jackets were vailble for older boys in elementary school and knickers as well as shorts. A Best Department Store summer catalog offered a range of outfits, mostly suits and blazer outfits for primary school boys (figure 1).
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