Figure 1.--Camp shorts were primarily a casual style, but primary-age boys did wear them to school. Here we see a boy pictured as going to school on a Cat Stevens '45 rpm record album. Click on the image for a more detailed disussion.

Camp shorts were a type of casual short pants. American boys began to widely wear camp short pants during the summer in the 1960s. 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 addition to the pockets which boys like. The zip and flap pockets seem to have a special appeal to many boys. American boys did wear them to camp, but they were also 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.

Casual/Play Wear

Camp shorts were a type of casual short pants. American boys began to widely wear camp short pants during the summer in the 1960s. 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 addition to the pockets which boys like. The zip and flap pockets seem to have a special appeal to many boys.

Camp

As the name suggests, camp sorts were not just worn for play and other casual wear at home. American boys did wear them to camp. Summer camps by the 1960s less commmonly had required uniforms. Most camps allowed the children to bring theor own clothes to camp. Several styles of short pants were worn. Camp shorts were one of the popular styles. The cargo pockets and zip pockets as well as the utility attachment made them especially popular for camp wear. They were also commonly worn with tube socks at camp. I remember it was a camp in 1961 that I first recall seeing camp shorts, at least that I first remember noting them. A boy wore a green pair with green kneesocks. I assume that was his mother's idea, thinking that a Scouting look was appropriate for camp.

School

Camp shorts were not just worn for play, but also were worn to school. Primary-age boys commonly wore them to school. Some primary school boys did wear short pants to school in the 1960s, but this varied by region. I think that many mothers, especially in the 1960s, did not hink cut-offs appropriate for school. Camp shorts seem appropriate formal to mothers and approprately informal to boys. This was even more common in the 1970s and 80s. Camp shorts were one of the styles of shorts chosem. They were odten paired with tube socks. Ankle socks became more common in the 1990s.

Semi-formal Wear

Primarily camp shorts were a casual style. We have also noted that camp shorts were worn for more formal occassions, mostly during the summer. Yonger boys, for example, might come to Sunday School dressed in camp shorts and a white shirt. Almost always blue camp shorts were chosen on such occassions. This was, however, a less common usage than the much more common usage as casual wear. We recall one boy at a outdoors recital wearing blue camp shorts and blue kneesocks. A reader writes, "HBC had a photograph of a boy in shorts doing Irish dancing. {HBC note: Some mothers dressed the younger boys in shorts until they were sure they were willing to get involved seriously in Irish dancing. This was because of the cost of a kilt outfit.] The shorts he was wearing were blue Camp shorts. That photograph reminded me of the time back in the 1970's when I noticed a boy a little older dressed almost the same way as the boy in the Irish dancing photograph. He was standing in line to recieve Holy Communion in the Catholic church i attended every Sunday. I was about 15 at the time and a little surprised because I had never seen anyone wearing short pants to Sunday Mass before. I to wore the camp shorts, but never to Church. This boy had on the camp shorts just like the ones in that photograph. He also wore knee socks and black weather shoes and a white shirt. The only thing that was different was the tie and belt. The boy looked to be about 10-12 years old and was standing in line with both of his parents. The two other boys i was with that day as we had Sunday School after mass made a few snide comments to theirselfs they said look at that sissy in short pants."

Created: 2:17 PM 10/26/2004
Last updated: 3:04 PM 12/29/2004