Figure 1.--This Canadian boy wears what looks like a home-made xut-away jacket with a cjecked shirt and small white collar. This tin-type portrait is undated, butlooks to have been taken in the 1870s. It was taken at the J.B. Davidson Photograph Salon, probably in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. A brother seems to have been photographed in an identical suit at the same time. Click on the image to see him.

We have no information on Canadian suits until the 19th century, HBC has some limited information on Canadian boys' suits in the 19th century. We believe that Canadian boys wore English style suits in the 19th century. We are less sure about American influences. This may have varied regionally. We note cut-away jackets in the mid-19th century. And much fabcier suits in the late-19th century, including Fauntleroy suits. Eron suits were popular in the late 19th century for school-age boys. Many boys wore knee pants suits. Our archive of 19th century images, however, is very limited. More information is available on the 20th century. Available images show boys wearing Norfolk knicker suits in the early 20th century. We notice both single- and double-breasted suits in the 20th century. We notice knee pants, knickers, short pants, amd long pants suits during the first half of the century. After World war I (1914-18), boys began wearing short pants suits with single and double breasted styling. Older boys through the 1930s commonly wore knicker suits. Some boys in the 1950s still wore knicker suits, but by the 1960s there seems to have been little difference between Canadian and American suits.

19th Century

We have no information on Canadian suits until the 19th century, HBC has some limited information on Canadian boys' suits in the 19th century. We believe that Canadian boys wore English style suits in the 19th century. We are less sure about American influences. This may have varied regionally. We note cut-away jackets in the mid-19th century. Two briothers had matching home-made jackets. Jackers often buttoned at the collar with only a small white shirt collar showing. And much fabcier suits in the late-19th century, including Fauntleroy suits. Eron suits were popular in the late 19th century for school-age boys. Many boys wore knee pants suits. Our archive of 19th century images, however, is very limited.

20th Century

More information is available on the 20th century. Available images show boys wearing Norfolk knicker suits in the early 20th century. We notice both single- and double-breasted suits in the 20th century. We notice knee pants, knickers, short pants, amd long pants suits during the first half of the century. Lnee pants were common at the beginning of the century. After World war I (1914-18), boys commonly wore knicker suits. We also see began wearing short pants suits with single and double breasted styling. Older boys through the 1930s commonly wore knicker suits. Some boys in the 1950s still wore knicker suits, but by the 1960s there seems to have been little difference between Canadian and American suits. Boys began to coomonly wear long pants suits. Overall suits were much less common by the 1970s.

Created: 1:29 AM 3/10/2007
Last updated: 1:29 AM 3/10/2007