French boys began wearing shortened-length pants, commonly as suits, in the mid-19th century. The suit was a much more common garment in the 19th and early-20th century than is the case today. The suit was the standard garment for men and boys wih some social class and demographic differences. Boys' suits were were done with knee pants or knickers and gradually this became increasingly common. By the late-19th century and were standard for French boys by the end of the century. Shortened length pants were not seasonal wear, but commonly worn by boys in both summer nd winter. The suit jacket along wih knee socks and long stockings helped boys remain warm in cold weather. This continued into the 20th century. French boys commonly began wearing short pants in the 20th century. The transition from knee pants to short pants occurred mostly after World War I. The popularity of the Boy Scout movemnt which adopted shorts as part of the uniform was a factor here. The difference being length and the ornamental leg hem buttons. They rapidly replaced the knee pants that boys had been wearing since the mid-19th century. Unlike much of Europe, knickers also continued to be commonly worn, but by mostly older boys. Short pants suits generally had knee-length shorts until the 1930s when shorter cut shorts began to appear for younger boys. And suits contunued to be done with shorts that had the button leg trim. The buttons disappeared on stand alone shorts before disapparing from suit shorts. The buttons seenm to have been conncted with formality and thus need on suit shorts. We see that pattern in other European counbtries as well. Older French boys began wearing the shorter style in the 1940s. A factor may have been the World War II German invasion and occupation. The Germans exploited the French economy. Consumer goods like clothing were shipped to Germany with only minimal payment, creating serious shortages in the French economy. Thus new clothes for growing children became inceasingly difficult to obtain. Thus we see older boys wearing shorts than many were growing out of. Short-cut shorts were fashionable in the 1950s-70s. At the same time, dress becme increasingly informal, espcially for boy. We see fewer boys wearing suits by the 1960s, espoecially among younger teens who began wearing long pants more commonly. By the 1970s we see longer style shorts becoming more popular in France. At the same we see more boys and younger boys wearing long pants, especially when dressing up. Shorts except for the youngest boys became seen increasingly casual summer clothing.

The 19th Century

Suits for boys resembling the modern suit began to appear in the mid-19th Century. Previously French boys had worn skeleton and sailor suits and tunics with long pants after graduating from baby dresses. Their fathers in the early era of the 19th Century wore knee breeches. By mid-Century that had changed. Men wore long pants and children knee length pants. At mid-Century the suits worn by boys were generally plain, althoughsome more elaborate styles were available to romantic mothers. It was not until the 1880s that elaborate Fautleroy suits appeared with lace collars and fancy blouses. The pants worn by boys at mid-century varied. Some boys wore long trousers like their fathers. As the century progressed, however, it became increasingly common for boys to wear knee-length pants. Many styles buttoned at the knee, others were simply cut off at the knee. Knee pants were worn with long stockings which were kept up by suspender waists. The stockings were usually a dark color or horizonal stripes which became popular ..... The tops of the stockings which came over the knee held up with clasps. Only the very youngest boys had bare knees, and it was even rare for little boys wearing more juvenile styles. Boys wearing short pants suits always wore long stockings.

Figure 1.--French and other Continental boys in the 1930s tended to wear shorter cut shorts pants with their short pants suits.

The 20th Century

The convention of boys wearing shortened-length pants continued into the 20th century. French boys commonly began wearing short pants in the 20th century. The transition from knee pants to short pants occurred mostly after World War I. The popularity of the Boy Scout movemnt which adopted shorts as part of the uniform was a factor here. The difference being length and the ornamental leg hem buttons. They rapidly replaced the knee pants that boys had been wearing since the mid-19th century. Unlike much of Europe, knickers also continued to be commonly worn, but by mostly older boys. Short pants suits generally had knee-length shorts until the 1930s when shorter cut shorts began to appear for younger boys. And suits contunued to be done with shorts that had the button leg trim. The buttons disappeared on stand alone shorts before disapparing from suit shorts. The buttons seenm to have been conncted with formality and thus need on suit shorts. We see that pattern in other European counbtries as well. Older French boys began wearing the shorter style in the 1940s. A factor may have been the World War II German invasion and occupation. The Germans exploited the French economy. Consumer goods like clothing were shipped to Germany with only minimal payment, creating serious shortages in the French economy. Thus new clothes for growing children became inceasingly difficult to obtain. Thus we see older boys wearing shorts than many were growing out of. Short-cut shorts were fashionable in the 1950s-70s. At the same time, dress becme increasingly informal, espcially for boy. We see fewer boys wearing suits by the 1960s, espoecially among younger teens who began wearing long pants more commonly. By the 1970s we see longer style shorts becoming more popular in France. At the same we see more boys and younger boys wearing long pants, especially when dressing up. Shorts except for the youngest boys became seen increasingly casual summer clothing.

Created: 12:18 AM 10/15/2018
Last edited: 12:18 AM 10/15/2018