Figure 1.--This portrait was taken in Saint Johns, New Brunswick. It was an AZO portrait print. It is not dated, but was probbly taken about 1010. The boy looks to be a young teenager about 13 years old. He wears a knickers Norfolk suit with long dark stockings. Image courtesy of the CS collection.

HBC has only limited information on the suit jacket styles were worn in the 19th century. As far as we can tell, Canadian boys wore basically the same suits styles as American boys. We notice cut-away jackets. Some were fancy jackets like Fauntleroy jackets. There were a variety of collar-buttoning jackets. Well to do boys, especially from English families, might wear Eton suits and collars. The collars were more popular than the suits. HBC has noted Norfolk suits in the early 20th century. This appears to have been as especially popular style in the early 20th centiry. There were also Norfolk jackers worn with pants of a different material. By the 1930s modern looking single breasted and double breasted suits. Blazers were worn, but we're not yet sure when they first appeared.

Collar Buttoning Jackets

There were a variety of collar-buttoning jackets.

Cut-away Jackets

We notice cut-away jackets. We do not have many images. But as this was a popular style in both America and Britain we believe it must also have been common in Canada. These were worn both with matching and other pants. We notice boys wearing what look like home-made cut away jackets, we think in the 1870s.

Double-breasted Suits

Blazers were worn, but we're not yet sure when they first appeared.

Eton Suits

Well to do boys, especially from English families, might wear Eton suits and collars. The collars were more popular than the suits.

Fauntleroy Suits

Some Canaduan boys wire were fancy jackets like Fauntleroy jacket beginning in the 1880s. s. The styles we have seen look very similar to the Fauntleroy suits wirn by american boys.

Norfolk Suits

HBC has noted Norfolk suits in the early 20th century. This appears to have been as especially popular style in the early 20th century. Here we see a St. Johns boy about 1910 (figure 1). We notice a wide range of arrangements of straps and belts. There were also Norfolk jackets worn with pants of a different material. Knickers weee especially common.

Single-breasted Suits

By the 1930s modern looking single breasted and double breasted suits.

Created: October 13, 2003
Last updated: 1:59 AM 3/10/2007