Figure 1.--Here we see an unidentified girl from Peterborough, New Hampshore wearing short hair and a stylish dress. The cabinent card portrait was taken in 1889. This child looks very boyish, but we think it unlikely a boy this age woyld be wearing a dress, although it was not unknown.

American girls like girls in other countries wore dresses throughout the 19th and much of the 20th century. We do not know a great deal about dresses at this time. We believe dress styles were largely set in Europe throughout the 19h century. We do not, however, know to what extent American and European dress styles varied. We want to develop information on fashion trends over time. We also want to see how girls' dress styles compared to adult women's styles. This will be very useful in improving our ability to date old photographs, many of which are not dated. Not only did girls wear dresses in the 19th century, but so did younger boys. Girls continued to wear dresses in the 20th century. Only after World War II do we commonly see girls wearing other garments. We begin to see girls wearing pants in the 1920s and 30s, especialy the 30s. But this was mostly in casual situations, like playing around the house and a summer camps. Only in the 1960s do we see girls commonly wearing pants. Here American girls led the way for a trend that would be followed in ther countries. Gradually in the 20th century it became popular for girls to wear boys' styles like shirts and jeans. In sharp contrast to the 19th century, boys' did not wear girls' styles.

Headwear

Girls very commonly wore headwear in the 19th century. This became less common in the 20th century, especially the second half of the 20th century. We notice girls wearing a wide range of hats. The styles varies over time, but many styles were variation on sailor wide-brimmed hats. Age was less important than was the case for boys. We notice the most simple up to the rediculously elabotate. Hsts coukd be lrge and elaborate in the late-19th and very early-20th centuty. Here there was a complication with hair stles as girls like to showcase their hair. There were also caps, but hats were more common. Some hats such as rounded-crown hats were similar to boys hsats, but the styles and decoration were mostly different. One style of caps worn by boys and girls were stocking caps. Often girls worn fancier stocking caps or caps of a different color , but often they wore the same styles as the boys. We notice girls of all ages wearing berets in the first half of the 20th century. Only very young boys wore berts.

Skirted Garments

American girls like girls in other countries wore dresses throughout the 19th and much of the 20th century. We do not know a great deal about dresses at this time. We believe dress styles were largely set in Europe throughout the 19h century. We do not, however, know to what extent American and European dress styles varied. We want to develop information on fashion trends over time. We also want to see how girls' dress styles compared to adult women's styles. This will be very useful in improving our ability to date old photographs, many of which are not dated. Not only did girls wear dresses in the 19th century, but so did younger boys. We notice many different styles of dresses. Girls continued to wear dresses in the 20th century. Only after World War II do we commonly see girls wearing other garments. Of course girls still wear fresses, but for many girls, dresses have become a less important even minor garments, reserved for dress up occassions. Other skirted garments girls wore included skirts and pinafores. Pinafores were widely worn in the 19th and early 20th century. Skirts becane a major style for girls and are still widely worn. Some skirted garments were primarily for boys, including kilts and tunics.

Blouses and Shirts

Rompers

Conventions for most garments were very similar in different countries. Rompers were different. Romper usage varied a gread deal from country to country. French rompers were only for boys. We are not yet sure about Britain. American rompers were worn by both boys and girls.

Pants

We begin to see girls wearing pants in the 1920s and 30s, especialy the 30s. But this was mostly in casual situations, like playing around the house and a summer camps. Only in the 1960s do we see girls commonly wearing pants. Here American girls led the way for a trend that would be followed in ther countries. Gradually in the 20th century it became popular for girls to wear boys' styles like shorts and jeans. In sharp contrast to the 19th century, boys' did not wear girls' styles.

Support Garments

Hosiery

Footwear

Created: 1:37 AM 4/19/2009
Last updated: 3:18 AM 1/10/2010