Figure 1.--Boys in the early 20th century who entered the work force would be more likely to wear long pants, in this case overalls, than their counter poarts who stayed in school. This is a noon break at a Cannery in Indiannapolis during 1908. The image is in the National Archives collection. |
Various types of long pants have been worn. The first were the long trousers worn with skeleton suits. These generally were worn slightly above the ankle. Later pants were worn at or below the ankle. Jeans appeared in the second half of the 19th century , but were not at first considerd a boys garment. Younger boys mightwear button-on or suspender long pants, but the shorts were more common. There were many types of long pants play suits, especially in America. Many long pants were bought as parts of suits. Corduroy is best know for shorts pants in Britain and France and knickers in America, but cord long pants were also popular. Slacks appeared after World War II and have been popular ever since. Chinos were an especially popular style. There were many stylistic changes over times to slacks. They have been worn with and without cuffs, front pleats, and various pocket arrangements. During the 1950s a small ornamental back belt was popular. Pants with cargo pants appeared in the 1990s, and out growth of camp shorts and army Viet Nam era styles. Baggy trousers also appeared in the 1990s.
Various types of pants were worn with skeleton suits. At first kneebreeches were worn. The first specialized boys; trousers were the long trousers worn with skeleton suits. These were generally trim fitting and were worn slightly above the ankle. Later pants became baggier and were worn at or below the ankle.
Boys by the 1820s after breeching commoly wore long pants. I'm not sure what they were called or the stylistic variations. Most appear rather baggy and not very well tailored, although the lack of photographic evidence makes analysis difficult.
Jeans appeared in the second half of the 19th century , but were not at first considerd a boys garment. No clothing item is more associated with America than the once humble blue jeans or overalls as they were once called. The standard overalls of Levi Strausswere
originally work pants for me only. They now appear in a variety of different syles and garments from baseball hats to baggy jeans. Jeans assumed more importance in
a boy's and girl's wardrobe around the world during the second half of the 20th century than virtually any other garment. American boys have generally worn long pants jeans, although jean shorts became popular in Europe during the 1970s. American boys did wear cut-ff jean shorts.
Jeans or overalls as they were called were the most famous work pants, but they were not the only kind. This is atopic oif some importance because until the 1930s, large numbers of boys, often quite young boys, were involved in the work force in both America and Europe.
Many long pants were bought as parts of suits. Boys since the introduction of sailor suits and skeleton suits in the 18th Century have worn long trouser suits. Long trouser suits of various forms were common in the early and mid-19th Century. Boys at the beginning of the 19th century might wear a lace collared tunic over long trousers before graduating to a proper suit. After mid-Century knee pants became more common. American catalogs in the 1880s tended to show knee pants suits through 12 years of age and long pants suit begining at 10 years of age. By the end of the Century boys it was increasingly common for teenagers to be dressed in knee pants suits. Many boys might spend many of their teen years in knee pants. This varid greatly from family to
family, but for teenage boys in knee pants, receiving their first long pants suit became a major rite of passage. This situation was commom in America, England, and Europe up to the First World War. After the war, fashion standards became much more diverse.
Younger boys mightwear button-on long pants, but the shorts were more common.
Younger boys might wear suspender long pants. The shorts were more common in Europe. Very young boys might wear suspender shorts in America, but younger school age boys more commonly wore suspender long pants for school. Some suits like merican Eton suits came with suspender shorts, but not as commonly suspender lonngs.
Boys have worn a wide variety of play suits begginning in the early 20th century. These play suits were developed for younger boys that once might have worn dresses until they were breeched. There were many types of play suits, including long pants versions, especially in America. Many boys might wear longpants olay suits, but dress us in short pants or knicker suits.
These outfits were similat to boys shortalls, but made with long pants. I first noted them in America during the 1950s, but may have appeared eralier. The name was of course derived from overalls.
Corduroy first appeared as a fabric for working people and that image continued througout the 19th century. It was a widely used fabric for work clothes and was became widly worn by school boys from low-income families as well as boys who entered the work force in the late 19th century. After the turn of the 20th century, corduroy became more identified with boys' clothing. Corduroy is npw best know for shorts pants in Britain and France and knickers in America, but cord long pants were also popular.
Slacks appeared after World War II and have been popular ever since.
Chinos were an especially popular style. There were many stylistic changes over times to slacks. They have been worn with and without cuffs, front pleats, and various pocket arrangements. During the 1950s a small ornamental back belt was popular.
The first bell bottom trousers were worn by sailors. They are best known for the popular bell-bottom jeans worn by boys and hirls in the 1970s.
Pants with cargo pants appeared in the 1990s, and out growth of camp shorts and army Viet Nam era fatigue pants. The Desert Storm campaign of 1990 also helped to popularize them.
Viet Nam and Sesert Storm also helped to popularize camagloge pants and other gear.
Baggy trousers also appeared in the 1990s. They were all the rage in the late 1990s and appear to be still popular in the early 2000s. There is quite adiiference of opinion among generations here. Many boys, but not so much girls, love them. Parents can more eaily select the clothes of younger boys. Teenagers sometimes, however, select very large sizes and can often be seen constantly pulling them up. Older people look on them as unsightly and preposterous. One HBC reader comments, "Here is my input to boys baggy clothes. they are the most discusthing thing i have ever seen. They came from 1) prisoners, 2) basketball, and 3) urban gangs. It then spred to the subarban kids. I have seen kids 3 years old in them and men in there 60s. Its a shame the most ugly thing is when the bags fall to the pavement. I have seen this happen more than once. Then teenage boys have to show off their baggy polka dot underwear. Who wants to look at that? The schools can stop it if they put in a strict dress code like the Catholic schools or the schools in Britain where there is a required uniform. Parents in America are too willing to meet their kids
demands, no matter what they are. I have a nephew 22 yrs old. His waist is 28 and the kid wears a 38 in so called pants. He looks like an idoit and his parents can't do nothing with him."
A style of pants aoppaered in the late 1990s that could be worn either as short or long panrs. The longer length was worn as a zip-on attachment. The new fad is "Zip-Off pants", where you can zip off the pant leg just below the knee to make the pants into shorts. These are very popular for the Junior High on down set. They come in kacki and nylon styles. Also the kids like the long shorts with the drawstring loop at the bottom, which is believe is for skateboarding and if you want wear the pant legs shorter. Nylon shorts and pants are popular in the 2000s, again, with the below-High School group.
