Evening star., 1955-01-23
Warriors, Young and Old, Join Battle Of Blue Jeans
Some Students Buck
Officials in Bon on
Hip-Hugging Pants
By Harry Bocos

BY marry bocds
Washington's citizens-young
and old-are still lining UP today
in what may become the Battle
Of the Blue Jeans"
The side-taking began IN
earnest last week when several
boys were sent home from local
schools because their pants were
too tight.
For those who hadn't already
noticed, it suddenly became evi-
dent that Washington youngsters
by the thousands were all wear
ing the same thing. But q wide
spread reaction to the growing
blue tide was beginning to set in.
Voices of the young joined
those Of some school authorities
in protesting that blue jeans had
their place and should be kept
in it. Confusing the issue was
a sometimes unrecognized dis
tinction between the two kinds
Of blue ieans-regular and
Western.
"Western" Is Snug Fit.
The Western-which had led
the fashion and was exciting the
strongest reactions narrow In
the legs, tight around the hips
and short in the seat. It Is called
.'broncs" or Lewis" after one
manufacturers trade name. In
some high schools, 1t has been
specifically banned. In others
1t is quietly disapproved. In only
a few has 1t so far been officially
ignored.
The piain-styled blue jeans
are made of the same material.
but their cut is more conven-
tional. and looser. They too have
been banned in some area high
schools, but not so many.
And in most elementary
schools and Junior high schools,
both kinds still flourish un-
checked.
It was girls who first led the
local revolt against the spread
of Lewis" They wore them
themselves at home. for picnics.
for sports or for dirty occupa-
tions like painting and cleaning.
But they didn't wear them to
school and they didn't like it
when the boys did.
Principals Cracking Down.
"They Just don't look NICE"
many complained, with a sense
of injured feminine propriety.
Some carried their complaints
to teachers and principals, and
about two years ago. just as the
wind Of fashion was whipping
the tide OF jeans higher and the
fit tighter. school principals
began to crack down.
The school reaction gradually
became more general until today
the trend-punctuated by out
bursts like last weeks clash be-
tween a school principal and an
offending students parents-is
definitely against jeans in most
area high schools.
One mother, who saw the light
early. has two sons attending
Mckinley High School. She says:
ITO me, jeans are play clothes.
When my boys were in elemen-
tary school. they wore corduroys.
When they went to Junior high,
I said, now you're going to wear
slackS.' In high school. they
wear khakis or gray khaki wash
pants and I put a press in them
to make them look neat.
"They don't have to wear
coats and ties. But when they
dress better, their behavior's bet
ter. and I don't think those dun
garees are proper for school"
All Right at Home.
Her sons come home from
school and put on dungarees,
tennis shoes and perhaps fan
mel shirt. That's fine" she
says, "for around the house"
Other parents-realizing that |
jeans are cheap, rugged and
washable-are glad to have their
sons wear them. It saves money
and cleaning bills. But most of
them admit that they would be
just as glad to see the boys In
khakis or other wash pants that
hang straight down and can be
pressed from time to time.
Many girls are positive about
the matter. A 15-year-old, just
starting at Western High School,
says:
Il like slacks. But there is
time and place for certain
clothes. Toreador pants tgirls'
slacks that end in tight fit at
the upper calf are just darling.
Girls look better in bermudas
(shorts that come to 4 inches