Figure 1.--Here we see three German boys casually dressed in 1956. Note that two wear Lederhosen, one with a halter. |
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Lederhosen appear to have been very popular with German boys in the 1950s. And because of the massive economic expansion, most families could afford them. They were a very flexible garment in that they could be worn for a wide range of acrivities and events. German boys during the 1950s look to have commonly worn Lederhosen for day to day activities both for play and at school. Many boys seem to have worn them much like as boys now wear jeans. We also notoce boys dressing up with Lederhosen. Some boys had matching Bavarian or Alpine jackets for church or special occassions. The photographic record suggests that they were most popular for special occasions or school, especially primary school.
Lederhosen were a very flexible garment in that they could be worn for a wide range of acrivities and events. German boys during the 1950s look to have commonly worn Lederhosen for day to day activities. We see many boys wearing them casually for play or just normal wear. They were commonly worn for outdoor activities, but by the 1950s mostly during the warmer months. We not only see boys wearing them for outings, but also around the home. Many boys seem to have worn them much like American boys at the tome wear wearing jeans. .
We also notoce boys dressing up with Lederhosen. Some boys had matching Bavarian or Alpine jackets for church or special occassions. We see fewer example of this in the photographic record, but it was definitely domne. We think this may have been more common in Bavaria and probanly Audrrua. The photographic record suggests that they were most popular for special occasions.
We see many German boys wearing Lederhosen to school in the photographic record. Here this is a little dificult to assess in class portraits because quite a number of boys wore H-bar shorts or even halters, but not necessarily with proper leather short Lederhosen. This was particularly common at primary schools, but we see many pre-teen boys wearing Lederhosen to school. Sometimes even teenagers, especially in the early-1950s. Usually they were worn wuth the halters to school. They seem to have been popilar with both boys and mothers as they were practically destructable and could be worn with out great concern over care of the garment. We suspect that Lederhosen was not a garment that boys had to change when they came home from school. And because mother could buy a large size because the halters effectively held them up. Thus rge waistline fit was not important. Boys could wear the same Lederhosen to school for several years.
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