Figure 1.--Here we see an open neck dress with a neckline near the neck. It is decorated with a lace trim, almost a lace collar. The boy here is unidenttified, but the CDV portrait was taken sat the Thos. B. JHowe studio in Newbury & Hungerford. The CDV is undated, but looks like the 1880s to us. Notice the wonderful toy train which confirms that the child is a boy.

The neckline along with the bodice are integral to the overall dress design. They are the two most important elements determining the look of any dress. A fashionable dress is designed for women. And in a woman's dress a neckline is chosen to emphasizes or dempohasize the the bosom. Of course this has nothing to do with children, both boys and girls. But boys did at times wear fashionsable dresses conforming with the fashions of the day. There are two types of neckline treatmemt. First there are open neck or collarless dresses. Second there are closed neck mostly collared dresses. But boys did at times wear fashionsable dresses conforming with the fashions of the day. Open necks were very common in the early-19th century. A good example is an unidentifued English boy, probably in the 1830s. Closed-neck dresses, often with collars were more common in the late-19th century. Open neck collars were done to various depths. and shapes. We see some dresses done with low necklines like fashionable ladies might wear. We see rounded, "V", square, and rectangular and countless refimenents of those basic shapes. Higher cut earound the neck were more common. There are three basic styles: on the shoulders, off the shoulders, and strapless. Children open-neck dresses were normally done as on the shoulder dresses. The neckline was decorated in various ways with lace or other decoration. Closed-neck collars were also done in awide range of designs and with various decorations. Closed neck dresses along with high necklines were common for children. Some had collars that might be buttoned.

Open Neck/Colarless Dresses

A fashionable dress is designed for women. And in a woman's dress a neckline is chosen to emphasizes or dempohasize the the bosom. Of course this has nothing to do with children, both boys and girls. But boys did at times wear fashionsable dresses conforming with the fashions of the day. There are two types of neckline treatmemt. Open necks were very common in the early-19th century. A good example is an unidentifued English boy, probably in the 1830s. Open neck collars were done to various depths. and shapes. We see some dresses done with low necklines like fashionable ladies might wear. We see rounded, "V", square, and rectangular and countless refimenents of those basic shapes. Higher cut neckline around the neck were more common. A good example is an unidentified Frome boy and his older sister in the 1860s. They have moderate open neclkines. There are three basic styles: on the shoulders, off the shoulders, sand strapless. Children open-neck dresses were normally done as on the shoulder dresses. The neckline was decorated in various ways with lace or other decoration.

Close Neck/Collared Dresses

Closed-neck dresses, often with collars were much more common in the late-19th century. Closed-neck collars were also done in awide range of designs and with various decorations. Closed neck dresses along with high necklines were common for children. Some had collars that might be buttoned.

Created: May 17, 2002
Last updated: 12:08 AM 4/22/2018