Figure 1.--Here we see an American boy actually wearing camp shorts at camp, they were, however, not just worn for camp. These were Sears camp shorts.

Camp shorts appear to have been primarily an American style. They were almost certainly developed in America, but I am not sure who introduced them. I can recall first seeing them in the early 1960s, but am unsure precisely when they first appeared. Camp shorts were very popular among American boys during the 1960s and 70s and even into the 1980s. They were an important feature in American catalogs such as Sears and Wards. The Sears camp shorts were made in the United States. the boy here, for example, is wearing Sears camp shorts. A reader writes, "This is a pair of Sears camp shorts, I would say in the late 70s or early 80s. Notice the metal utilty clip it is mounted on the right hip belt loop sears is the only manufacture that put the clip in that postion. All other camp shorts had the clip mounted on a belt loop on the left front side or right front side. Sears also had the back patch pocket on the right hip as the photograph here shows. I had several pair like this myself in the late 70s and early 80s. I think Sears made that change in the mid 70s as Sears camp shorts prior to that had two back patch pockets. Why they changed to the one back pocket style I don't know. It could have been just a slight style change or they elimanated the one pocket as a cost cutting measure. HBC has not noted them being worn extensively in other countries to any great extent. Camp shorts were a type of casual short pants." American boys did wear them to camp, but they were alo commonly worn for play and other casual wear at home. Primary-age boys commonly wore them to school in the 1970s and 80s.

Important American Style

Camp shorts appear to have been primarily an American style. We have noticed them in other countries, but no where else were they worn more widely as in America. HBC has not noted them being worn extensively in other countries to any great extent.

Origins

They were almost certainly developed in America, but I am not sure who introduced them. We would like to add details on the origins of camp shorts and would be very interested in any information that readers might be able to provide us.

Chrononology

We are unsure precisely when camp shorts first appeared. The seem to have appeared in the 1950s, but I am not sure just when. A reader recalls wearing camp shorts in 1959. I can first recall seeing them in the early 1960s. They may have existed earlier, but that was the first I remember noticing them. We can confirm that the major catalog companies were marketing camp shorts by the early 1960s. The first such offering we have noticed is the Sears 1961 catalog, but they must have appeared earlier. We can not yet, however, document this. Camp shorts were very popular among American boys during the 1960s and 1970s and even into the 1980s. They were very promineltly featured in most major catalogs during this period.

Companies

They were an important feature in American catalogs such as Sears and Wards. The Sears camp shorts were made in the United States. the boy here, for example, is wearing Sears camp shorts. A reader writes, "This is a pair of Sears camp shorts, I would say in the late 70s or early 80s. Notice the metal utilty clip it is mounted on the right hip belt loop sears is the only manufacture that put the clip in that postion. All other camp shorts had the clip mounted on a belt loop on the left front side or right front side. Sears also had the back patch pocket on the right hip as the photograph here shows. I had several pair like this myself in the late 70s and early 80s. I think Sears made that change in the mid 70s as Sears camp shorts prior to that had two back patch pockets. Why they changed to the one back pocket style I don't know. It could have been just a slight style change or they elimanated the one pocket as a cost cutting measure."

Usage

Camp shorts were a type of casual short pants. American boys began to widely wear camp short pants during the summer in the 1970s. The stress, however, was on casual styling. As a result another popular contemporary style was cut-offs. Boys seem to prefer shorts that were clearly styled for casual wear. Camp shorts had that look in additioin to the pockets which boys like. The zip and flap pockets seem to have a special appeal go many boys. American boys did wear them to camp, but they were alo commonly worn for play and other casual wear at home. Camp shorts were not just worn for play, but also were worn to school. Primary-age boys commonly wore them to school in the 1970s and 80s. We have also noted that camp shorts were worn for more formal occassions such as paitred with a white shirt to Sunday school. This was, however, a less common usage. Primarily camp shorts were a casual style.

Created: 4:06 AM 10/23/2004
Last updated: 2:14 PM 10/26/2004