Figure 1.--While the fancy suits like Fauntleroy suits are the best known, many boys like this Denver, Colorado boy wore plainer suits. This boys suit jacket has both sailor and double breasted styling. The photograph was probably taken about 1890.

The rather non-discript, plain suits with short jackets worn with long pants changed in the late-19th century to better tailored jackets that look increasingly like modern jackets. Despite the extremely fancy styles which developed during this period, many suits had very simple styling. The Norfolk jacket which appeared in the late 19th Century was one of the more elaborate. Some had double breasted styling. Most were much simpler. Sometimes stylistic elements were added from other styles like sailor suits

Fauntleroy Suits

It is of course the fancy Faunteroy suits that come to mind when late 19th century boys' suits come to mind. Large numbers of boys wore them, but alsways a minority. The original Fauntleroy suits were quite expensive, but more modestly priced suits were widely available by the 1890s.

Sailor Suit

The sailor suit came into its own during the late 19th century. Virtually everty boy wore them. Many suits while not precisely sailor suits had some aspect of sailor sttyling

Eton suits

Norfolk styling

Double breasted

Double breasted styling appeared on a variety of garments. Some sailor suits even had double breasted styling.

Plain suits

Many boys suits were stlied very simply in the late 19th century. Many boys wore heavy coat like jackets. They buttoned at the collar and had collars rather than lapels. There were no collars to be seen so it is unclear just what shirts they were worn with. Boys might wear them with long pants, but kneepants were more common.

Created: October 6, 2000
Last updated: October 6, 2000