|
Fashion was one of the least things on people's minds after World War II. In addition, the economy had been devestated by the War. Many people did not have jobs. People were wearing old clothes. Material was in short supply. Many boys were wearing clothes that normally might have been discarded or handed down to a younger brother. Once the economy had begun to pick up in the late 1940s, more attention was being given to clothing. Short opants and smocks were still very common in the 1940s, although berets were notably less common than before the War. The prosperity of the 1950s meant that more money could be spent on clothes. Boys in the 1950 commonly had much more extensive wardrobes than before the War. Smocks were still common in the 1950s, but by the later part of the decade were declining in popualarity, especially among older primary-age boys. Many younger boys, however, still wore smocks. Sandals wee still common boys' wear, but were becoming increasingly seasonal. A few boys wear sneakers, but sandals are more common. While many pre-War trends were common in the late 1940s and early 50s, notable changes were apparent by the late 1960s. Older boys in the 1960s were also less commonly wore short pants to school. Sneakers are increasingly popular during the 1960s. The Paris School Riots in 1968 had a significan impact on schoolwear and clothing in general. One problem here is that French schoolwear trends cannot be neatly explained by decades, but rather blend over the decades.
Fashion was one of the least things on people's minds after World War II. In addition, the economy had been devestated by the War. Many people did not have jobs. People were wearing old clothes. Material was in short supply. Many boys were wearing clothes that normally might have been discarded or handed down to a younger brother. Once the economy had begun to pick up in the late 1940s, more attention was being given to clothing. Short pants and smocks were still very common in the 1940s, although berets were notably less common than before the War.
Trends in the early-1950s were very similar to the 1940s. Major changes began to take place by the mid 1950s. The recovery from World War II and the prosperity of the 1950s meant that more money could be spent on clothes. By the early-50s, living standards had surpassed pre-War levels. France was not neatly as badly damaged as Germany, bur there was considerable damage in some areas, especially Normandy. Combined with rising family income we have smaller families. French boys in the 1950s had much more extensive wardrobes than before the War. For some reasom we no longer see boys wearing bereys, except for Scouting. Smocks were still common in the early-50s, but steadily declined as the decade progressed. By the later part of the decade were declining in popualarity, especially among older primary-age boys. This seems to have been up to the school, but boys seem less willing to wear them and parents less supportive. It seems to have been largely dependent on the individual schools. We see some schools where most of the boys wore them (figure 1) and other schools where we see very few smocks. We still see many boys wearing short pants, but staedily during the decade we begin to see more boys wearing long pants especially during the winter. Knee socks which were still common in the 1940s became less common in the 1950s especially by the end of the decade. Many younger boys, however, still wore smocks. Sandals were still common boys' wear, but were becoming increasingly seasonal. A few boys wear sneakers, but sandals were still more common.
While many pre-War trends were common in the late 1940s and early 50s, notable changes were observanle by the lte-1950s and apparent by the late 1960s. We no longer see berets to ant extent. and smocks were increasingly going out of style, especilly for boys. Long pants were beggining to be worn even in even in primary school. Older boys in the 1960s were less commonly wore short pants to school. Knee sicks were much less common in the 1960s, especially for boys. Sneakers were are becoming increasingly popular during the 1960s. The Paris School Riots in 1968 had a significan impact on schoolwear and clothing in general.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Main Chronology Page]
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related HBC Garment Pages:
[Return to the Main school uniform page]
[Return to the Main country page]
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer
[School sandals]
[French catalogs]
Navigate the HBC School Section:
[Return to the Main French post-war chronology school page]
[Return to the Main French school page]
[Australia]
[England]
[Germany]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[New Zealand]
[Scotland]
[United States]
Navigate the HBC School Section:
[About Us]
[Activities]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Debate]
[Economics]
[Garment]
[Gender]
[Hair]
[History]
[Home trends]
[Literary characters]
[School types]
[Significance]
[Transport and travel
[Uniform regulations]
[Year level]
[Other topics]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]
