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The pants boys wore to school in the 20th century varied quite a bit, both chronologically and from country to country. Knee pants were very common in the early-20th century. American boys switched to knickers in the 1910s. Younger boys might wear knee pants or later short psnts, but most boys wore knickers to school. Overalls became popular in rural areas. Both knickers and overalls remained popular until World War II. Similar trends were common in Canada. European boys shifted to short pants after Wold War I (1914-18) which remained popular in the post-War era. Similar trends could be observed in all the major countries (England, France, Germany, and Italy) as well as many other countries. In England this often meant grey shorts worn as school uniform which became mpre popular after World War II. Long pants for older boys were commonly grey or black. Japanese primary boys also commonly wore short pants, both at schools with and without uniforms. Older boys in Europe wore knickers. We continue to see some older European boys wearing knickers into the 1950s. Long pants became more popular after World War II, first in America, but gradually in Europe as well, especiall during the winter. Long pants became increasingly common for school wear during the 1960s. We begin to see some American boys wearing casual short pants to school in the 1970s. Some schools began adoptuing uniforms. American schools also began adopting uniforms. Short pants were often optional. We begin to see destinctivev national characteristics discipate, especially in Europe by the 1970s. We see a kind of pan-European fashion trend develop. By the end of the century we even see girls wearing long pants to school.
We note boys in the 20th century wearing all kinds of different types of pants to school. We see short pants, knee pants, knickers, and long pants. There were some destinctive national pants types, such as Lederhosen in Germany. We note some younger French boys wearing rompers, mostly pre-school boys. Knee pants were very common in the 1900s, but rapidly declined in popularity in the 1910s, except for younger boys and some formal suits. Knickers were worn before the 190s, but became standard scjool wear in America during the 1910s and were worn through the early-40s. Knickers were worn in Europe as well, but not as commonly as in America. They were more for teenagers in Europe anbd were worn into the 50s, albeit there were substntial differences from country to country. Short pants replaced knee pants in the 1910s and were very widely worn in Europe, but less [opular in America. Shorts were very common in European schools through the 1950s, but declined in popularity duing the 1960s. Long psnts were commonly wiorn gto dchool throughout the 20th century, especially by teenagers. Some younger teens wore shorts to school in Europe, but this went out of style in the 60s. Most boys wore long bpants to school in the post-War era, but as casual styles became mopre common, we begin to see shoryts agin by the end of the decade. Here there were variations from country to country.
The pants boys wore to school in the 20th century varied quite a bit, both chronologically and from country to country. Knee pants were very common in the early-20th century. American boys switched to knickers in the 1910s. Younger boys might wear knee pants or later short psnts, but most boys wore knickers to school. Overalls became popular in rural areas. Both knickers and overalls remained popular until World War II. Similar trends were common in Canada. European boys shifted to short pants after Wold War I (1914-18) which remained popular in the post-War era. Similar trends could be observed in all the major countries (England, France, Germany, and Italy) as well as many other countries. In England this often meant grey shorts worn as school uniform which became mpre popular after World War II. Long pants for older boys were commonly grey or black. Japanese primary boys also commonly wore short pants, both at schools with and without uniforms. Older boys in Europe wore knickers. We continue to see some older European boys wearing knickers into the 1950s. Long pants became more popular after World War II, first in America, but gradually in Europe as well, especiall during the winter. Long pants became increasingly common for school wear during the 1960s. We begin to see some American boys wearing casual short pants to school in the 1970s. Some schools began adoptuing uniforms. American schools also began adopting uniforms. Short pants were often optional. We begin to see destinctivev national characteristics discipate, especially in Europe by the 1970s. We see a kind of pan-European fashion trend develop. By the end of the century we even see girls wearing long pnts to school.
We have developed some chrnological information on school pants in various country school sections. There was some similarity in the 19th century, but we notice considerable variation in the early 20th century. The United States in particular had destinctive styles. Knickers were very common with boys. By the late-20th century we begin to see these differences disappearing as a kind of pan European fashion becomes increasingly generalized around the world, albeit with climatic variations.
The type of pants boys wore for school in the 20th century varied some what by ages, but this changed over time and from country to country. It was much more varied than in the 19th century. Boys in the 19th century mostly wore long pants to school. This was fairly common in both America and Europe. We begin to see younger boys wearing shortened-length pants (mostly knee pants) to school in the late-19th century. By the turn-of the 20th century we see many boys wearing knee pants to school, including many older boys. This was especilly common in America. Most older Europen boys wore long pants. This began to change in the 1910s, especially after World War I. We see European boys wearing short pants. American boys mostly wore knickers. Some younger boys wore short pants. Here there were socisl class connitations. Short pants were very common in urope, even with younger teenagers. Soine teen agers worn knickers, but most teenagers by about 15-16 years of age wore long pants to school. Changes occurred after World War II. Knickers disappeared in America. Boys mostly wore long pants, even younger boys in primary school. This did not begin to change unil the late-20th cntury when we begin tgio see short pants in school again. Europen boys continued to wear short pants and knickers after World War II into the 1950s. By the 1960s we see more anfd more boys wearing long pants which were common with the younger boys in primary school by the 70s. There wee differences from country to country and even within countries depending on the type of school.
Girls with few exceptions commonlyu wore dresses or skirts to school until well fter World War II. Gradually we see girls wearing pnts to school, including jeans. Here trends varied friom country to ciountry. In schools with uniforms you do not see pants for schools, but in schoolswhere children wore popular fashions, you do see this trend developing.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s/a>]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Long pants suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]
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