Figure 1.--This is a 1896 cabinet portrait of two cousins. It shows "Darling Julian," with his cousin "Ivy," holding hands. Ivy has a huge wide-brimmed sailor hat with a white frock or smock. You can see the chin strap and their presumably were streamers, although you can not see them. Julian looks to be wearing asailor cap with some kind of baptism/christening outfit. The studio was Wilson & Sons, 95 Harrow Road, Paddington Green, London.

Gender was an important factor in children's headwear. English boys and girls have generally worn detinctive headwear styles. Some styles over time have been worn by both boys and girls, but most headwear was gender specific. We have a substantial chronological record beginning with the development of photography (mid-19th century). Headwear was very common in the 19th and early-20th century. A much more important part of fshion and dress than is the case today. Thus we see many children with headwear in early photographs, even with indoor studio portraits. At the turn of the 20th century with the introduction of the family snapshot we have outdoor images to add to the 19th century mostly studio images. We see range of styles for boys and girls. There are relatively few styles which both both boys and girls have worn. The primary exception here was younger boys who might wear some of the same styles as girls. The most common style that both genders wore were wide-brimmed sailor hats. Most sailor caps were, however, only worn by boys. We see a few girls wearing sailor caps, but they were primarily a boys' style. We also see both boys and girls wearing berets and tams, although only younger boys in England wore them. This was entirely differeht in France where men and boys wore berets. The exception here is the Scouting beret where after World War II the Scouts began wearing berets. Earlier this was prmarily a French garment. We see some boys wearing baseball caps in the late-20th century. Unlike the United States, we do not see girls wearing them. Generally we see headwear going out of style after World War II, esoecially after the 50s.We see some schools, mostly private schools requiring caps fmr the boys and hats or berets for the girls, but even this was becomong less common by the end of the century. The sane was true of the Scout/Guide movement. .

Gender Trends

Gender was an important factor in children's headwear. English boys and girls have generally worn detinctive headwear styles. Some styles over time have been worn by both boys and girls, but most headwear was gender specific.

Chronology

We have some limited headwear inforation on historical periods. The standard male hat was the tri-corner hat in the 18th century. Working classes might have wiore more modest styles like stocking caps. Women and girls wore a varirty of hats and bonnets. We have a more substantial chronological record beginning with the development of photography (mid-19th century). Headwear was very common in the 19th and early-20th century. Well dressed people wore headwer and this included ll social classses. We see a lot of the same styles in America during the 19th century, but more differences in the 20th century. A much more important part of fshion and dress than is the case today. Thus we see many children with headwear in early photographs, even with indoor stydio portraits. At the turn-of-the 20th century with the introduction of the family snapshot we have outdoor images to add to the 19th century mostly studio images. We see English boys mostly wearing caps. This was somewhat the case in the 19h century, but particukarlt in the 20th century. Peaked school caps were aajor style in the late-19th century and the first half of the 20th century. Generally we see headwear going out of style after World War II, especially after the 50s. We see some schools, mostly private schools requiring caps for the boys and hats or berets for the girls, but even this was becoming less common by the end of the century. The sane was true of the Scout/Guide movement. We see some English boys wearing baseball caps in the late-20th century.

Types and Styles

We see a range of headwear typs and styles. Generally speaking caps were mostly worn bu boys and hats by girls. But this dichotomy was not so pronounced in the 19th century. Granted few firls wore styles for boys and girls. There are relatively few styles which both both boys and girls have worn. The primary exception here was younger boys who might wear some of the same styles as girls. The most common style that both genders wore wsere wide-brimmed sailor hats. Most sailor caps are, however, only one by boys. We see a few girls wearing sailor caps, but they were primaroly a boys' style. We also see both boys and girls wearing berets and tams, although only younger boys in England wore them. This was entirely differeht in France where men and boys wore berets. The exception here is the Scouting beret where after World War II the Scouts began wearing berets. Earlier this was prmarily a French garment. We see some boys wearing baseball caps in the late-20th century. Unlike the United States, we do not see girls wearing them. Generally we see headwear going out of style after World war II, esoecially after the 50s. We see some schools, mostly private schools requiring caps fmr the boys and hats or berets for the girls, but even this was becomong less common by the end of the century. The sane was true of the Scout/Guide movement.

Created: 12:47 PM 9/16/2012
Last updated: 5:10 AM 11/9/2016