Figure 1.--Knickers became very common in America during the 1910s, but we still see some boys wearing knee pnts during the early 20s. This photograph appeared in a Kodak ad during 1921. It was in "The Ladies Home Journal" (September 1921, p. 39). By the 1920s it was mostly younger boys still wearing kneed pants. The boy looks about 8 years old.

Knickers became very common in America during the 1910s, but we still see some boys wearing knee pnts during the early 20s. This photograph appeared in a Kodak ad during 1921. It was in The Ladies Home Journal (September 1921, p. 39). By the 1920s it was mostly younger boys still wearing kneed pants. The boy looks about 8 years old. The boy is shown examining the photographs he has taken with his Kodak camera in 1921. He is sitting at his desk at home with a portfolio of photos, some of which you can see in the upper opening of his desk. The photo appeared as part of an article promoting photography for boys and is really an advertisement for Kodak cameras. Photography was a popular hobby for boys, but too expensive for many.

Knee Pants

Knickers became very common in America during the 1910s, but we still see some boys wearing knee pnts during the early 20s. By the 1920s it was mostly younger boys, like the boy here, still wearing kneed pants.

Kodak Ad

This photograph appeared in a Kodak ad during 1921. It was in The Ladies Home Journal (September 1921, p. 39). The photo appeared as part of an article promoting photography for boys and is really an advertisement for Kodak cameras. Photography was a popular hobby for boys, but too expensive for many.

The Boy

The boy looks about 8 years old. The boy is shown examining the photographs he has taken with his Kodak camera in 1921. He is sitting at his desk at home with a portfolio of photos, some of which you can see in the upper opening of his desk. A reader writes, " I would have thought he looked younger." Perhaps, but I wouldn't say much younger.

Clothing

The photograph is a good illustration of what younger boys from fairly affluent, middle-class families, were wearing early in the 1920s. The boy is wearing a knee pants suit with a white collar, a very wide white belt and white ornamental buttons at the hem of his knee pants. He wears the traditional long black stockings. Notice the clasp of his hose supporter which can be seen at the leg hem as the boy is sitting with his legs extended. A reader writes, "Also I note the stocking clasp visible just below the knee pants hem. Another instance of short stockings until trousers became shorter."