From Sporty to Stylish: What to Know About Knickerbockers

Just-below-the-knee knickerbockers were originally male-exclusive and worn for a range of purposes. They found their place amongst military men and athletes, but today they can also serve as casual everyday pants that skew more dressy. Bottoms with such an extensive history warrant a biography that delves into their fashionable and practical past.

Here’s what you should know about knickerbockers, from their utilitarian characteristics to how to style the shorter silhouette.

1. These shorter pants were once a marker of youth. In the early 20th century, following World War I, boys wore knickerbockers until the point of puberty, after which they switched to longer bottoms.
2. Athletes still wear them. Though they may just look like spandex, football players’ tight pants are actually referred to as knickerbockers. The same applies to baseball players’ and traditional golfers’ bottoms as well, though their pants are not as body-hugging.
3. They can be both casual and fancier pants, depending on overall structure and material. They’re often made of cotton jersey, which makes knickerbockers more of a relaxed sweat pant for both men and women. However, a structured cotton knickerbocker possesses the same shorter qualities of the now-classic culotte, sans the wide leg silhouette.
4. Since these pants can serve multiple purposes, it makes a difference how you style them. For an easygoing option that reads more athleisure, pair them with sneakers and a fitted tee. However, if you opt for a pair that reads more formal–these styles apply particularly to women– try knickerbockers with high heels and a crop top.

Get to know knickerbockers so you can appreciate their past while wearing them in the present. These cropped pants are easier to wear than you’d think.

Knickerbocker pants have a stylish place in the past and present.