Figure 1.--Girls during the 19th and much of the 20th century mostly wore dresses. This changed in the 1970s when many girls began wearing shorts and long pants, even to school. Some girls like the English girls here continued to prefer dresses.

Dresses are of course primarily associated with girls. The revolution in boys' clothing initiated by the skeleton suit beginning about 1770 did not come until 3 decades later for girls at the turn of the 19th century. Girls began wearing Empire style frocks made in white muslin with high-waists anfd short, balooning sleeves. These frocks were in keeping with the temper of the times, and gave the impression of revolutionary freedom and a girlish innocence. They were also much less restrictive than the cumbersome dresses formerly worn. Girls continued wearing only dresses throught the 19th century, albeit with considerable stylistic changes. Gradually girls dresses became much more elaborate and restrictive. Unlike boys clothing whjich was styled differently than their father's outfits, girls often wore dresses styled like their mothers, albeit often with shorter hems. Major changes in styles came with the 20th century, especially after World War I (1914-18). While the styles changed, until World War II (1939-45), girls still mostly wore dresses. It was unusual to see girls in shorts and pants until after the War. In some countries, well after the War. After the War, Yves Saint Laurent introduced the shift dress with very short skirts. Courrèges created party dresses similar to those worn in 1920s nurseries. Beginning in the 1960s girls began turning away from dresses. Many girls by the 1990s rarely wore dresses, prefering shorts or jeans. HBC at this time does not have detailed information on girls' dress styles. This would be very helful in helping to ssess undated image and to comapre with styles of dresses boys wore over time. HBC would be very interested in working with a reader interested in developing information on historical girls' dress styles.

Girls'Garments

Dresses are of course primarily associated with girls. Girls essentilly wore cut-down vsuins of the dresses that their mothers wore. There were until the 20th century no purpose made girls' clothes. The revolution in boys' clothing initiated by the skeleton suit beginning about 1770 did not come until decades later for girls at the turn of the 19th century.

Dress Styles

HBC at this time does not have detailed information on girls' dress styles. This would be very helful in helping to assess undated image and to comapre with styles of dresses boys wore over time. HBC would be very interested in working with a reader interested in developing information on historical girls' dress styles. We have begun to collect some information. Girls began wearing Empire style frocks made in white muslin with high-waists anfd short, balooning sleeves. These frocks were in keeping with the temper of the times, and gave the impression of revolutionary freedom and a girlish innocence. They were also much less restrictive than the cumbersome dresses formerly worn. Girls continued wearing only dresses throught the 19th century, albeit with considerable stylistic changes. Gradually girls dresses became much more elaborate and restrictive. The peak of this was the hoop dress in the mid-19th century. Unlike boys clothing whjich was styled differently than their father's outfits, girls often wore dresses styled like their mothers, albeit often with shorter hems.

Chrinology

Major changes in styles came with the 20th century, especially after World War I (1914-18). While the styles changed, until World War II (1939-45), girls still mostly wore dresses. It was unusual to see girls in shorts and pants until after the War. In some countries, well after the War. After the War, Yves Saint Laurent introduced the shift dress with very short skirts. Courrèges created party dresses similar to those worn in 1920s nurseries. Beginning in the 1960s girls began turning away from dresses. Many girls by the 1990s rarely wore dresses, prefering shorts or jeans.

Created: 1:16 AM 3/24/2006
Last updated: 9:15 PM 9/14/2008