Figure 1.--Here we have a fairly standard sized school class. There is no information associated with the class portrait, but we think it was taken in the 1940s, probably the late-40s. It looks like a Spring photo as the teacher has her coat on and many of the children are wearing sweaters. A reader thinks it may be a Autumn photograph. "My guess would have been September (start of the school year) as the temperature in September can be cool but not cold. And that would make sense for a class photo." The boys are wearing both short and long pants, but no knickers, helping to date the photograph. We would guess it was a 3rd grade classs, meaning 8-year olds.

Short pants were also worn by school by younger American boys when they first appeared (1920s). This was the case because knee pants had been common for such a long period. Here we are talking about the short pants that appeared after World War I in the 1920s, not the straight-leg knee pants that became standard for boys in the late-19th century. The convention was for boys to wear shortened-length pants of some kind. This varied regionally and chronologically. There were also social-class variations. Shorts were most common in the South because of the warmer weather. Winter could be very severe in the northern states. Short pants were the natural evolution from knee pants which were very common in the late-19th and early-20th century. We commonly see short pants after World War I (1920s). At the time, boys wore shorts or knickers all year round as part of age conventions. This was the standard convention for knee pants. This was possible even in the North because knee pants and knickers when they appeared were worn with long stockings. Shorts when they appeared (920s) were mostly worn by younger boys. Older boys more commonly wore knickers to school which became almost universal. We see younger teens wearing knee pants and knickers to high school, but never short pants. This was common in the early-20th century, but began to decline by the 190s. There were regional, seasonal, and social class differences. Knickers began to declined in popularity (1930s). Some boys wore short pants instead, but most except for the younger boys tended to wear long pants, especially to school. Here there were regional, seasonal, and social class differences. Most of the boys wearing shorts to school were the younger boys. By 5th-6th grade (10-12 years old), most boys were wearing long pants to school. Short pants were increasingly combing casual summer wear rather than styles younger boys wore (1960s). We only see long pants in high school (late-1930sd). Many high school had more more formal dress codes. This continued until the late-20th century when school dress became increasing casual sand we begin go see more boys wearing shorts. After World War II, especially by the early-1950s even younger boys began wearing long pants to school. This was a little different in the South. Some private schools were an exception, but we see very few boys wearing short pants to school for several decades. We don't see shorts at school to any extent until again the late-20th century (1980s).

Shortened-length Pants Convention

Short pants were also worn by school by younger American boys when they first appeared (1920s). This was the case because knee pants had been common for such a long period. Here we are talking about the short pants that appeared after World War I in he 1920s, not the knee pants that became standard for boys in the late-19th century. The convention was for boys to wear shortened-length pants of some kind. We even see younger teens wearing knee pants and knickers to high school, but never short pants. This was common in the early-20th century, but began to decline by the 1910s.

Regional Variation

This varied regionally. Shorts were most common in the South because of the warmer weather. Winter could be very severe in the northern states and summerrs were shorter meaning afewer months in which shorts could be worn. br>

Social-class Variations

There were also social-class differences. Upper-class and upper middle-class boys were more likely to wear short pants than working-class boys. This was not the case in Europe. This was especially the case of boys whose families had European orientations. In many cases they attended private schools. We see that with John F. Kennedy Jr. and his cousins (1960s).

Rural Schools

In the early-20th century, boys attending rural schools began dressing differently than city boys. We do not see that in the 19th century. Overalls became very common in rural schools. But we rarely for whatever reason see rural boys wearing short pants to school, even cut-down overalls. Mny boys came ti school brefoot, but they did not wear shorts--even the youngest. We are not sre why this was, but it is apparent in the photogrphic record.

Evolution

Short pants were the natural evolution from the straight-leg knee pants which were very common in the late-19th and early-20th century. This was also the case in Europe, actually it was more common in Europe. For whatever reason, in America, knickers became more common. About 1908 we seen American boys shifting from knee pants to knickers. So when shorts appeared (1920s), knickers continued to be more common. Even the Amerrican Boys Scouts generally wore knee covering breeches/knickers rather than shorts--except at camp.

Chronology

Boys wore long pants in the first half of the 19th century. This was when the American school system was just beginning to be established And there is little school photography photography only appears (1840s and we do not see much in the way of school photography until (1870s). At this time boys mostly wore long pants to school, but we see younger boys wearing straight-leg knee pants. We also see knickers in Europe, but in America we mostly see knee pants. Knee pants had become standard for boys and what hey wore to school (1890s). But we do not see any boys wearing what we would today call short pants. Boys continued wearing knee pants, but there was a sudden shift to knickers (about 1908). American boys mostly wore knickers (1910s), but some younger boys continued wearing knee pants. Short pants appeared (late-1910), but we do not commonly see them until after World War I (1920s). Shorts were seen as a European fashion. At the time, boys wore shorts or knickers all year round as part of age conventions. This was the standard convention for knee pants. This was possible even in the North because knee pants were worn with long stockings. Shorts when they appeared (1920s) were mostly worn by younger boys. And they cold be worn with long stockings during the winter ton keep warm. Knickers had becoming standard (1910s and this continued in the 1920s. Knickers began to declined in popularity (1930s). Some boys wore short pants, especially in the 1940s. But by the 1950s this had changed. Except for the very youngest boys most boys were wearing long pants, especially to school. Most of the boys wearing shorts to school were the younger boys. By 5th-6th grade (10-12 years old), most boys were wearing long pants to school. Short pants were increasingly becoming popular casual summer wear rather than styles younger boys wore (1960s). We only see long pants in high school (late-1930s). Many high school had more more formal dress codes. This continued until the late-20th century when school dress became increasingly casual. After World War II, especially by the early-1950s even younger boys began wear long pants to school. This was a little different in the South. Some private schools were an exception, but we see very few boys wearing short pants to school for several decades. TYhis was not because of any school rules--at leasdt in proimsry chools. It was because Amrerican boys for he most part did not want to wear short pants to school, even if they wore shorts at home. We begin to see more boys wearing short pants (1970s). But they still were not common at school. California may have been a little different. At the time different types of shorts were commonly being worn during the summer as casual styles, including many sports styles. We don't see shorts at school to any extent, however, until again the late-20th century (1980s). Suddenly shorts became common. There was a shift to longer baggy shorts (1990s). This continued into the 21st century. Gradually the longer bggy-shorts went out of tyle, bboys' shots tend to be longer than the shorter -style worn by girls (2020s)

Navigate the Relate Boys Historical Clothing Style Pages
[Long pants suits] [Short pants suits] [Lederhosen] [Kneesocks] [Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers] [Blazer [School sandals]

Navigate the HBC Counyttry School Pages
[Return to the Main U.S. school pants type page]
[Return to the Main U.S. school pants page]
[Return to the Main U.S. school garment page]
[Return to the Main National School Uniform Page]
[Australia] [England] [France] [Germany]
[Ireland] [Italy] [Japan] [New Zealand] [Poland] [Singapore] [Scotland]
[Singapore] [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]

Created: 3:40 AM 2/7/2022
Last updated: 7:10 AM 11/25/2025