Figure 1.--The four boys shown here are age-graded--from about 18 years in the long trousers suit, to about 9 or 10 in the short-pants suit, to about 12 and 14 in the case of the two boys wearing knickers. This was an illustration from the Fashion Review Service. We're not poistive when it appeared, but would guess the early 1930s. The illustration here came from the Fashion Review Service.

The four boys shown here are age-graded--from about 18 in the long trousers suit, to about 9 or 10 in the short-pants suit, to about 14 and 12 in the case of the two boys wearing knickers. All four of these boys are quite dressed up, but the illustration (showing books, a report card, a college pennant) is obviously aimed at mothers who value education for their sons. It isn't clear whether this illustration represents the early, middle, or late 1930s. I think it suggests about 1934-35.The illustration here came from the Fashion Review Service. They provided illustrations to stores advertising in newspapers.

Long Trouser Suits

The boy in the long trousers may be wearing his first longies and looks as though he were a senior or at least an older boy in high school. His suit is a three-piece tweedy outfit (notice the matching vest). It comes with a two-button jacket and trousers with very prominent cuffs. Note the widely cut trousers, which was characteristic of a sporty style in the 1930s. Notice that he wears a white shirt and tie and is tucking a handkerchief into his breast pocket for the finishing touch. The pennant above his head seems to suggest that he is contemplating college or university.

Short Pants Suits

The 10-year-old seems to be opening his report card, just sent in an accompanying envelope. He is very dressy in his salt-and-pepper tweed short pants suit with shirt and tie, cuffed knee socks, leather shoes, and beany school cap (perhaps with a small peak hidden by his shock of blonde hair). His socks are a plain color (probably gray or light brown)and ribbed with patterned cuffs. Such suits were considered rather upper-class and British in the 1930s and were often worn by boys who attended private schools or whose parents lived in eastern cities and were fairly affluent.

Knicker Suits

The two middle-years boys wear knicker suits. The 14-year old is tying his four-in-hand striped school tie in the mirror. His suit has a jacket belted in the rear and quite full knickers. Notice the plain ribbed stockings (they may be above-the-knee stockings) which give him a more dressy appearance than would be the case if he wore the more popular patterned golf-style knee socks. The 12-year-old is obviously wearing regular school clothes--corduroy knickers with a matching waist-length fitted jacket with slash pockets and wide lapels. He wears a white shirt and tie underneath, which probably wouldn't have been the case in most junior-high or middle schools. The boy with corduroy knickers also wears plain colored ribbed stockings, probably with supporters, rather than golf knee socks which tended to slip down.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor hats] [Berets] [Sailor hats] [Suit pants]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Knickers] [Kneesocks]

Created: 1:45 AM 6/14/2006
Last updated: 1:45 AM 6/14/2006