Figure 1.--White sailor suits became increasingly poular after the turn of the century. They were in the 1900s often worn with long stockings even in the summer. Note the wide-topped cap and strap shoes.

American boys continued to wear sailor suits during the Edwardian period, following the turn of the century. The sailor suit was probably the most popular style for boys in the 1900s and only slightly less so in the 1910s. Younger boys might wear sailor styled tunics while older boys wore sailor blouses with matching pants. Gradually knee pants began to be replaced with knickers and to a lesser extent short pants. The white or light-colored sailor suits became increasingly popular after the turn of the century. Sailor suits were still commonly worn by boys in the early 1920s. Kneepants were still common, but by the mid-1920s were rarely seen. Boys pants styles shifted to knickers. Some boys still wore their sailor suits with long stockings in 1920, but by the middle of the decade boys were mostly wearing kneesocks. As sailor suits began to be worn increasinly by smaller boys in the 1930s, the came to be worn primarily with short pants rather than knickers. As a result, blue wool suits became less commonly worn and white sailor suits became much more common. Sailor suits were less commonly worn to school, except by the youngest boys. American boys after World War II no longer commnly wore sailor suits, but the style has never completely disappeared. Girls still wore a range of sailor dresses. Girls might wear sailor dresses to school. They were normally not a dressy style. And we see some boys wearing sailor suits. There were some play suits for little boys with sailor collars during the 1940s, but these became increasingy rare by the 1950s. Some dressy sailor suits outfits for younger boys were also worn. We do not see them at school or even very commonlky for church. We have so few images that we are not entirely sure just when they were worn and for what occassions.

Edwardian Era (1900-1918)

American boys continued to wear sailor suits during the Edwardian period, following the turn of the century. The sailor suit was probably the most popular style for boys in the 1900s and only slightly less so in the 1910s. Younger boys might wear sailor styled tunics while older boys wore sailor blouses with matching pants. Gradually knee pants began to be replaced with knickers and to a lesser extent short pants. The white or light-colored sailor suits became increasingly popular after the turn of the century. I am not positive about this, but I believe some sailor suits began to appear in colors besides blue during this period. The age of boys wearing sailor suits started to decline, especially in the 1910s. They were still commonly worn by elementary-age boys to school and for dresup occasions. Wide-brimmed sailor hats continued to be worn for dress occasions in the early 20th Century. They were particularly popular in the 1900s. They were sometimes worn tuned down in the 1910s. Caps were more commonly worn, but unlike the wide-brimmed hats--only with actual sailor suits.

Figure 2.--This sailor suit by the 1920s in America had become primarily a style for younger boys, pre-school and the youngest primary (elementary) school boys.

Interwar and War Era (1919-1945)

Sailor suits were still commonly worn by boys in the early 1920s. Kneepants were still common, but by the mid-1920s were rarely seen. Boys pants styles shifted to knickers. Some boys still wore their sailor suits with long stockings in 1920, but by the middle of the decade boys were mostly wearing kneesocks. As sailor suits began to be worn increasinly by smaller boys in the 1930s, the came to be worn primarily with short pants rather than knickers. As a result, blue wool suits became less commonly worn and white sailor suits became much more common. Sailor suits were less commonly worn to school, except by the youngest boys. This was in contrast to Continental Europe, but not England, where boys up to 12 or in some cases even younger teenagers wore sailor suits--even short pants sailor suits.

Post War Era (1945-2000)

American boys after World War II no longer commnly wore sailor suits, but the style has never completely disappeared. Girls still wore a range of sailor dresses. Girls might wear sailor dresses to school. They were normally not a dressy style. And we see some boys wearing sailor suits. There were some play suits for little boys with sailor collars during the 1940s, but these became increasingy rare by the 1950s. Some dressy sailor suits outfits for younger boys were also worn. We do not see them at school or even very commonlky for church. We have so few images that we are not entirely sure just when they were worn and for what occassions. We think they were a style that boys in some affluent families may have worn for a variety of social occassions. We are mostly talking about pre-school boys, but some younger primary schools occassionaly wore sailor suits. They seem to have been used most commonly as attire for boys at formal weddings. Some of the suits had matching caps, but this does not seem very common. We note both long and short pants suots. Younger boys might wear saddle shoes with these suits.

Other Related Pages:
[Sailor suits] [Kilts] [Smocks] [Pinafores] [Sailor Hats] [Blouses]
[Ring Bearers] [Long hair] [Ringlet curls] [Hair bows] [Bangs] [Collars] [Bows]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to clothing styles]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 10:33 PM 5/25/2012
Last updated: 3:52 PM 11/12/2017