Ring Bearer Costumes: United States, 1935

Figure 1.--This formal American wedding took place in 1935. The ring bearer wore a late-period Little Lord Fauntleroy suite with a ruffled collar. These outfits were still popular for ring bearers in the 1930s. By the 1940s, Eton suits were more common. Click on the image to see the full wedding party.

A HBC reader reports, "The ring bearer at my parents wedding wore a Little Lord Fauntleroy Suit. They were married in 1935. The location was a rural community about 60 miles north of San Francisco. The ring bear was about four years old and according to a newspaper description, his suit was black velvet. By the way the ceremony had to be stopped to retrieve the ring after it fell off the pillow. The poor little boy was reduced to tears." Of course just such problems can be anticipated woth a 4-year old. Normally the ring is pinned to the pillow or just a replica is entrusted to the ring bearer and the father of the bride keeps the real ring safely in his pocket. The ring boy wears a classic small Fauntleroy jacket and ruffled collar blouse with modern short pants and neatly cuffed white ankle socks. These late-period Fauntleroy suits were still worn at formal events like these in the 1930s. Eton suits had become more common in America by the 1940s, especially after World War II. Unlike some events, no effort was made to coordinate the outfits of the ring bearer and flower girl. This was common inthe 1920s, but much less so by the 1940s.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Satellite sites] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: February 25, 2002
Last updated: February 25, 2002