Belgian First Communion Suits: Chronology--1920s Suits


Figure 1.--This Belgian boy wears a dark single-breasted kneepants suit for his First Comminion in 1926. Note the fob on his jacket. Men wore these for watches. I am not sure if this was true for boys as well. Click on the image for a fuller discussion of this boys suit.

Boys in the 1920s still wore sailor suits for First Communion, but regular suits were also worn. We note both single- and double- breasted styling. Lapels varied in width. These suits look rather modern and some could be worn today without notice. Styling was often plain with no notable detailing. These suits were commonly black or very dark plain color suits. We notice few suits with destinct patterns such as stripes. They look rather like the boys' regular suit rather one purchased specifically for First Communion. We do not note, for example, white suits. The number of images we have is still limited, so we cannot yet say definatively that no boys wore white suits. Most boys wore suits with the pants matching the coat jacket. Various kinds of pants were worn. Kneepants were still common, especially in the early 1920s. Many considered them more suitable for special occassions than kneespcks. Most boys wore dark suits with blacl long stockings. Most boys also wore gloves. The ones we have notedhave been dark gloves. I do not know if caps were commonly worn with the suits. Boys wearing sailor suits probably had sailor caps.

Sailor Suits

Boys in the 1920s still wore sailor suits for First Communion. The style is not as dominant as in the 1910s, but still fairly common--especially in the early 1920s.

Suits

I do not know if hats or caps were commonly worn with the suits. Given that it is the 1920s, they probably were. Most boys wore suits with the pants matching the coat jacket. Both single and double breasted suits were worn. These suits look rather modern, although the cut of the lapel can be somewhat different than modern suits. Lapels varied in width. Some are very formal looking black or other dark suits. We believe that black was considered more formal than lighter-colored suits with patterns. Some are regularly cut jackets, others look a bit like tuxedos. We see few suits with destinct patterns such as stripes. We do not note, for example, white suits. The number of images we have is still limited, so we cannot yet say definatively that no boys wore white suits. Many boys seem to have some sort of fob on their suit jacket. Men wore these for watches. I am not sure if this was true for boys as well. Some boys still wore their suits with bows for First Communion, but they were modest-sized bows. Neckties were becoming more common. Boys wearing kneepants commonly wore black or matching dark long stockings. Boys also wore shortpants suits. Here they wore both longstockings or kneesocks. A few boys had long pants First Communion suits, but this was not common. Many boys hold gloves along with their choir book for the formal portrait. Dark gloves seem the most common.







Christopher Wagner







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Created: October 31, 2002
Last edited: November 1, 2002