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American advertisements and mail order and other catalogs offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. American mail order catalogs in 1951 featured jeans and other long pants for boys of various ages. Khaki slacks were a staple. Stores offered shirts in a variety of bold prints as well as standard white annd blue colors. World War II style bomber jackets were very popular and saddle shoes seen as very stylish for boys. Suits were mostly single breasted and with long pants. Short pants suits might be worn by younger boys, often in the Eton style. A variety of "T"-shirts and shorts were available for summerwear.
Boys wore a variety of shirts during 1951. Cotton "T"-shirts were especially popular for warm-weather summer wear. We notice shirt and shorts combinations. We contunue to see sports collars, but they are hone by mid-decade.
A Vogue pattern from 1951 is for a shirt and shorts combination (fgure 1). The shirt could be made long or short-sleeved, with an open collar or traditional soft collar, and there was an option to make the outfit button-on. The size isn't shown.
World War II style bomber jackets were very popular.
American boys in the early 1950s were increasingly wearing single breasted suits. Sports jackers had become very popular. Most boys were wearig long pants suits, but boys under 10 years of age might stull wear short pants suits, especially boys from affluent families.
Jeans were worn by most elementary school boys, although many high schools did not permit them. They were worn cowboy style with big cuffs as seen in the movies, so that had to be bought long. Boys also wore a variety of slacks. Summer shorts were available in sizes up to 18 years, but mostly 6-12 years.
Saddle shoes seen as very stylish for boys.
This clever Carter'sad shows a boy in white briefs and t-shirt practicing archery. A boy in Robin Hood costume in the background explains the allusion. "T"-shirts an briefs were the principal underwear worn by American boys in the 1950s. Carter's was an important manufacr=turer of undewear, especially children's underwear. The ad also shows boy's pajamas with optional short or long pants. I'm not sure in which what magazine this ad appeared.
A French reader writes, "The model "B" is cute. The cut and the lengh of the pants seem s like the style found in France for boys 1-6 years old in this period. The model "A" would be rather for boy more 12-14 years old. the younger boys wore short pants with bib and always with suspenders.
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