Figure 1.-- American boys in the 1900s, like this boy from Massillion, Ohio generally wore suits. Double-breasted suits were very popular. Most boys wore knee pants suits, although knicker suits appeared at the end of the decade. . This included many teenagers. These shortened-length pants were generally worn with black long stockings.

Boys by the turn of the 20th century were still commonly wearing suits. Children did not have large wardrobes, but suits were a major part of it. Suits were worn for situations that now casual outfits dominate. This included rural schools. Old suits commonly became worn for more casual and play situations. Double-breasted suits were popular. Keen ants continued to be worn but even by the end of the 1900s decades, we begin to see knickers. Even many older boys wore these shortened-length pants. Both were worn with long stockings. Suits might be worn even when going barefoot, but if shoes were worn, both boys and girls wore long stockings. Here social class and regional trend patterns were significant. Skirted garments for boys almost totally disappeared including kilt suits by the 1910s. The sole exception continued to be tunic suits. They were also a step toward comfortable, informal outfits for boy, at leads younger boys. Even the more formal ones were more comfortable to wear than suits. Fauntleroy suits disappeared, although we see some Fauntleroy influences, mostly blouse outfits for younger boys. Sailor suits continued to be popular, another relatively informal style. We also see new styles, including Oliver Twist suits and button on suits for younger boys. They were done in a range of very different styles. Considerable formality was still associated with fashion in the early-1910s before World War I (1914/17). Boys wore both single and double-breasted suit jackets during the 1910s. Double-breasted jackets suits were still common, but we see more single-breasted jackets. Norfolk styling seems very popular. Knickers became increasingly popular in America, becoming standard, largely replacing knee pants. Scouting was created in Britain, but quickly adopted in America and quickly became very popular. British Scouts introduced short pants and knee socks. This was another factor promoting informality, especially the knee socks, eliminating the need for stocking supporters. It was a factor in the trend toward casual wear that had already begun before the War. As a result we begin to see shorts becoming a common style after the War, especially in Europe. Another factor is that we begin to see far fewer boys wearing suits to school in rural areas. Instead we see overalls becoming very common. We have no idea why this change occurred. This can be observed in the 1920s, but was much more apparent by the 1930s. This can be observed in school wear. Many boys wore suits to school before World War I, but after the War in the 1920s, suits gradually became less common. This was at first observable in primary schools, but even in secondary schools by the 1930s. After World War II, American boys boys began wearing mostly long pants suits. The same pattern occurred in Europe, but somewhat later. The pattern is often not easily observable because boys were wearing suits less and less. Many boys only wore suits for formal occasions and some boys did not even have suits. A blazer and slacks became a casual alternative to a suit. The school blazer became standard school wear in Britain during the early 20th century, at first in private schools. This style was adopted by American boys, although not for school wear. It became a part of the preppy look in the 1950s and has since been a boy's standard.

The 1900s

The Europeans began the 20th century with increasingly prosperous economies and enormous optimism. The success of Europe and stability of nearly a century without a major war created great certainty. It also reinforced the prevailing social standards. And this mean rather formal social conventions and dress of the 19th century persisted. Studio photography by the late-19th century provides a wonderful view of popular fashion, but this was greatly expanded by the Kodak Brownie that took photography outside the studio (1900). There was the beginning of a trend toward informality and casual wear which can be seen in the outfits for very young children. We still some younger boys wearing skirted garments like kilt suits, but this was rapidly going out of style. The sole exception was tunic suits which for some unknown reason, suddenly became very popular. They were the last skirted garment that commonly persisted for boys. The tunic suit was a simple, comfortable style--the first major step toward informality in the 20th century. For the most part, however, formality prevailed. Some boys wore Fauntleroy suits or regular suits with Fauntleroy trim, but his was going out of style. Sailor suits, however, continued to be popular. Standard sack suits continued to be very important for boys in the 1900s. Even younger boys commonly wore suits even in situations that today are dominated by casual clothes such as school wear. Younger boys might wear just blouses, usually fancy blouses, during the summer when dressing up, but most boys like their fathers wore suit jackets. Double-breasted jackets were popular, but we also see single-breasted suits. We still see a lot of patterned suits. Shortened-length pants were standard for boys--even many teenagers. In fact we see more older boys wearing shortened-length pants than in other decade. We see high school boys wearing shortened length pants. Of course at the time relatively few boy went on the high school. Most children ended their education in primary schools that had 8-year programs. Suits were commonly done in sizes up to 16-18 years of age. Older teens who did not continue their education and worked for the most part wore long pants. Boys by the turn of the 20th century were still wearing knee pants suits, but we begin to see knickers suits-by the end of the decade. We are not sure why knickers appeared so suddenly. Thi was part of major changes in boys clothing occurred. We had so idea why such stunning changes occurred at his this time and so suddenly. And it was not just knickers, we also see overalls appearing in rural areas as well as flat caps in urban areas becoming more common. Here social class and regional trend patterns were significant. Both knee pants and knickers were worn with long stockings. Suits might be worn even when going barefoot, but if shoes were worn, both boys and girls wore long stockings. Here social class and regional trend patterns were significant. We see a lot more boys wearing suits while barefoot in the southern states than in the northern states. Suits were also common in rurtal areas when dressing up.

Figure 2.-- School-age German boys in the 1910s mostly wore knee pants suits in contrast to American boys who mostly wore knicker suits. Pre-school boys wore a variety of juvenile-styled outfits.

The 1910s

Skirted garments for boys almost totally disappeared including kilt suits by the 1910s. Skirted garments fr younger boys were a centuries-long convention. The sole exception continued to be tunic suits, They were also a step toward comfortable, informal outfits for boy, at leads younger boys. Even the more formal ones were more comfortable to wear than suits. Fauntleroy suits disappeared, although we see some Fauntleroy influences, mostly blouse outfits for younger boys. Sailor suits continued to be popular, another relatively informal style. We also see new styles, including Oliver Twist suits and button-on suits for younger boys. They were done in a range of very different styles. These were commonly done with longish short pants and worn with three-quarter socks. Going barefoot was still common, but we rarely see these stylish outfits work without shoes, although we do begin io see sandals. And we see fancy blouses that school age boys might wear without jackets during the summer. Considerable formality was still associated with fashion in the early-1910s before World War I (1914/17). Boys wore both single and double-breasted suit jackets during the 1910s. Double-breasted jackets suits were still common, but we see more single-breasted jackets. Norfolk styling seems very popular. We see quite a number of these Norfolk jackets in the 1910s. We still see patterned material, but we see more and more dome in flat solid colors. Knickers became increasingly popular in America, becoming standard, largely replacing knee pants. Some boys wore knickers with knee pants, but mostly we see long stockings. The knickers in the 1910s tended to be worn above the knee. We still see younger boys wearing knee pants, but most older boys wore kickers, primarily with long stockings. Knee pants continued to be worn in Europe and they began to shift towards short pants--although they were still quite long. Baden Powell's short pants seems to have been a factor here. Scouting was created in Britain, but quickly adopted in America and quickly became very popular. British Scouts introduced short pants and knee socks. This was another factor promotional informality, especially the knee socks, eliminating the need for stocking supporters. American Scouts adopted breeches rather than shorts, but worn with knee socks. Although at camp the boys wore shorts like Scouts in Europe. We are not sure why this difference developed. Climate seems to have been a factor, but we think more was involved. Throughout the 19th century there was considerable similarity between America and Europe, in part because Europe, especially England, largely was the origin of fashion trends which Americans followed. World War I (1914) engulfed almost all of Europe and eventually America. Even those countries that remained neutral were affected Europe except for Spain and the Scandinavians. Dress standards had to decline as even fabric became a scarce national resource. The result was a utilitarian trend which had been largely ignored in Europe for decades. It was a factor in the trend toward casual wear that had already begun before the War. As a result we begin to see shorts becoming a common style after the War, especially in Europe. Another factor is that we begin to see far fewer boys wearing suits to school in rural areas. Instead we see overalls becoming very common. We have no idea why this change occurred.

Figure 3.-- We see boys wearing both single- and double-breasted suit jackets in the 1920s. This is an American boy, but the same trend was also true in Europe.

The 1920s

We see fewer younger boys wearing sailor and Oliver Twist suits. suits. The suits we see are mostly sack suits. were still fairly common in the 1920s, both in Europe and America. Suits were declining in prevalence. We see children's clothing become less formal. Some boys still often wore them to school, depending on the country. But in America casual clothes were becoming more common at school, especially primary school. And we continue to see rural boys wearing overalls rather than suits. Boys wore both single and double-breasted suit jackets during the 1920s. Eton suits or at least suits worn with Eton collars rapidly declined in popularity. Jacket styles tended to be similar in both American and Europe. For reasons we do not fully understand, the trousers boys wore with suits varied substantially. English fashions were an important influence on America, but for some reason the boys trousers varied substantially. Here the preferences of the boys themselves seems to have been an important factor. American boys generally wore knicker suits. European boys wore knee pants suits which gradually evolved into short pants suits. This varied somewhat from country to country. We note that for formal occasions boys from comfortable families might have a formal suit with knee pants. We see pants becoming more varied.. Knickers dominated, but we do see short pants and by the end of the decade some boys wearing long pants. The knickers were mostly in Americas. Age was a factor. Younger boys might wear shorts and gradually make a transition to knickers. There were also changes in hosiery. We still see mostly long stockings, but by the end of the decade, knee socks were becoming important. Juvenile Eton suits appeared in America during the 1920s. We are less sure about other countries. These were suits which had jackets without lapels which Americans called Eton suits. There were both summer and winter versions. The pants were often suspender shorts. They often had matching peaked caps. Gradually it became less common for boys to wear suits. This can be observed in the 1920s. There were some distinctive country trends. England had, for example, many private schools which required school uniforms. This affected suit styling. Many of these schools used blazers rather than suits. State schools did not require uniforms, but uniform styles at the private schools affected what boys in state schools wore.

Figure 4.--While American boys in the 1930s mostly wore knicker suits, European boys like this English boy commonly wore short pants suits. Notice the blazer styling of the jacket.

The 1930s

We still see both single- and double-breasted jackets in the 1930s, although the single-breasted style was beginning to become more popular. Norfolk styling seems to have gone out of fashion. The trend toward casual clothing was even more observable in the 1930s. This can be observed in school wear. Many boys wore suits to school before World War I, but after the War in the 1920s, suits gradually became less common. This was at first observe able in primary schools, but even in secondary schools by the 1930s. This varied from country to country. British boys still commonly wore suits to school. This was less true in Germany. We think one factor may have been the Hitler Youth. As the program grew after the NAZI takeover (1933), the uniform became an increasingly important part of a boy's wardrobe. Other countries had smocks for the younger boy. Knicker suits continue to be popular in America during the 1930s, but we begin to see more boys wearing long pants suits. This was particularly true of teenagers, but we see younger boys wearing long pants suits as well. Boys in Europe mostly wore short pants suits. This was almost universal for primary-age boys and even younger teenagers. Older teens might wear wore knicker suits. This might vary widely from family to family.

Figure 5.--Most American boys wore long pants suits in the 1940s, but some younger boys wore short pants suits. The Eton suit was a popular style. European boys still wore mostly short pants suits. This photograph was taken in 1941.

The 1940s

Fashion was sidelined during World War II. After the War we note a variety of developments, many begun before the War. Jackets for men often had padded shoulders, but this was not common for boys. Lapels were often quite broad. Sports jackets became popular in America. We see this less commonly in Europe. American boys boys began wearing mostly long pants suits.We see many two-tone jackets, many that they were made with two contrasting materials. This was a popular style for boys, teenagers, and young adults. Younger boys might wear short pants suits. The Eton suit was a popular style for these younger boys. The short pants suits were somewhat more common in affluent families. The same pattern occurred in Europe, but somewhat later. The pattern is often not easily observable because boys were wearing suits less and less.

The 1950s

Fewer American boys wore short pants suits in the 1950s, but they were still worn in Europe. A blazer and slacks became a casual alternative to a suit. The school blazer became standard school wear in Britain during the early 20th century, at first in private schools. This style was adopted by American boys, although not for school wear. It became a part of the preppy look in the 1950s and has since been a boy's standard.

The 1960s

Suit jackets with narrow lapels were stylish. We begin to see more European boys wearing long pants suits in the 1960s. By the end of the decade, short pants suits wee not even commonly available. British boys, however, might wear short pants suits or blazers with short pants as part of a school uniform. Some younger American boys still wore short pants suits, but most boys had log pants suits--even younger boys. Fashion continued to be increasingly casual and we see fewer boys wearing suits in the 1960s.

The 1970s

Many boys only wore suits for formal occasions and some boys did not even have suits.