How children dressed then and now

🧵 “Between stiff collars and light-up sneakers: how kids dressed then and now”
When I was a child in the 1960s, life seemed very different, especially when it came to clothing. While it seems strange or even impossible now, children didn’t choose their own clothes. Their parents decided everything they wore, and often it wasn’t just a matter of personal preference, but one influenced by a multitude of external factors: from social norms to how they presented themselves to others. In those days, everything was strictly defined: girls wore dresses, boys wore trousers and shirts with stiff collars. Everything was strict; it couldn’t be any other way.

Children of the 1960s: Strictness and Order
Take, for example, Jean-Pierre , an eight-year-old boy from a small town who, every morning, put on his dark corduroy trousers, a long white shirt with a stiff collar, and, underneath, a turtleneck sweater . These sweaters were terribly uncomfortable—they scratched your neck—but no one complained. Everyone wore the same clothes, and it was accepted as the norm. For holidays, a suit and tie were required , and even for children, the etiquette was mandatory: “A tie is a sign of adulthood.” So one could imagine little boys dressed in suits and jackets, looking like miniature adults.

Anna , a girl from a nearby street, at 10 years old wore dresses with full skirts, tights with lace patterns, and always a coat with shoulder pads . Summer shoes were always heels, and in winter, a knee-length coat with a double zip. But back then, there were no jeans, sweaters, or tracksuits like today. Any attempt by a girl to wear something “inappropriate” or “informal” was punished by parental scolding or even bans.

Time has passed…
Decades later, witnessing how modern children dress leaves a completely different impression on me. Today, Leonardo , an 8-year-old boy, chooses bright superhero T-shirts , LED-lit sneakers , and shorts with pockets. He doesn’t just choose clothes; he expresses himself through them , even if his choices aren’t always understood by his elders. Everything has become much more free and individual-oriented.

My friend’s daughter, Lisa , loves wearing princess dresses or TikTok trends —for example, with sneakers and colorful socks , and they’re as bright as possible. Parents no longer hold their children to strict boundaries; instead, the more unusual, the better. Lisa might want to dye her hair purple , and no one will say, “That’s not girly!” or “You’ll look like a boy.” In a world where children’s clothing can be anything, even an extravagant experiment, choice becomes much more democratic.

Fashion Then and Now: Two Different Worlds
It might seem strange that modern children’s fashion is something strange, as if they all dress like adults or like video game characters. But is that really such a bad thing? Back in the 1960s, children’s clothing was largely a symbol of obedience and order . Children were expected to look like something adults could say, “This is a role model.”

Modern fashion, on the contrary, is focused on freedom of choice and self-expression . Children can wear anything that reflects their interests and preferences, whether it’s animated characters or fashionable styles made popular by social media.

But what is better?