Figure 1.--Sailor hats and caps were especially popular in Germany, as were sailor suits. This boy was photographed in a large wide-brimmed sailor hay, probably in the 1890s. Image courtesy of the MD collection |
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Sailor hats and caps were especially popular in Germany, as were sailor suits. They were some of the most popular headwear for boys during thelate 19th and early 20th centuries. Many German boys began school wearing a wide variety of sailor hats and caps. The wide-brimmed sailor caps seem quite similar to those worn in other European countries and America. Popular styles of sailor caps followed the uniform styles of the Germany Navy. There were, however, a definite social class aspect to sailor suits and sailor headwear. They were especially popular with upper and middle-class families. Sailor hats were most common for younger boys and sailor caps for somewhat older boys.
During the late 19th century the wide-brimmed sailor hat became a popular style for boys. They were mostly worn by younger boys, but we note them being worn by a wide range of pre-teen boys. A younger teenager nmight wear them, but not vey commonly. Sailor caps do not seem to have been very popular in the 19th century. was a popular style. We see them being commonly worn though the 1900s before World War I. The styles closely followed the cap worn in the German Navy. After the turn of the 20th century we see sailor caps being commonly worn. During the 1910s we increaingly see German boys wearing sailor caps rather than the broad-brimmed hats that were once so popular. . After the War sailor hats are much less common. By the 1920s sailor caps were worn almost exclusively. Although sailor headwear as part as a sailot suit was not as common as before the War. We are not entirely sure why this was.
Often European boys are to destinguish as to nationality by their sailor suits. Styles often were not sharply destinuished by country and in fact many countries had very similar uniforms--mostly based on the British navy. Often the most destinguisging element of their sailor suit was the cap or hat.
Most headwear (hats and caps) worn by German children were gender specific. Tere were destinctive styles for both boys and girls. Also girls did bot wear caps like boys, but mostly wore hats. The major exception here is sailor-style headwear. We see boys and girls wearing the same styles of sailor caps and hats, although there are some differences. This reflects the trend in sailor suits in general. Both boys and girls wore sailor suits--although girls wore skirts instead of pants. I am not entirely sure about the chroinology here, but we certainly note German girls wearing sailor headwear and suits by the 1890s.
Sailor hats and caps are of course most associated with sailor suits. They were, however, not only worn with sailor suits. We have seen boys wearing sailor headwear with a variety of other outfits as well.
German boys have worn both hats and caps. Sailor hats and caps were especially popular in Germany, as were sailor suits. They were some of the most popular headwear for boys during thelate 19th and early 20th centuries. Many German boys began school wearing a wide variety of sailor hats and caps. Broad-brimmed sailor hats were most commonly done in the natural straw colors. We have also seen them with patterns woiwn in and some dark sailor hats as well. The sailor caps were commonly done in dark and light colors. They were most commonly done in navy blue and white, but there were other colors as well. Caps in these other colors were, however, much less common than the suits in other colors.
German boys like other European boys commonly wore both sailor hats and caps. Sailor hats and caps were especially popular in Germany, as were sailor suits. They were some of the most popular
headwear for boys during thelate 19th and early 20th centuries. Many German boys began school wearing a wide variety of sailor hats and caps. And they were noy just worn with sailor suits. There were several different styles of both and the popularity varied chroinologically and by age. During the late 19th century the wide-brimmed sailor hat were a popular style. By the early 20th century caps seem to have been more common than hats. The caps commonly followed contemoprary German naval uniforms. Often European boys are difficult to destinguish as to nationality by their sailor suits. Styles often were not sharply destinuished by country and in fact many countries had very similar uniforms--mostly based on the British navy. The hats, however, were quite different. They were more of a fashion statement derived from early 19th century uniforms before Germany had a substantial navy. German Sailor hats were most common for younger boys and sailor caps for somewhat older boys. They were also variations over time. Often the most destinguisging element of their sailor suit was the cap or hat. Sailor hats and caps were not only worn with sailor suits, but other outfits as well. We have note sailor suits done in other colors than the standard white and navy blue. The caps, however, were much more common to be found in white and blue.
Three features were commonly features on sailor headwear, both caps and hats. These were chin straps, streamers, and tallies (bands). Not all sailor headwear had these features, but many did. This included the sailor headwear for both boys and girls. All three features were inspired by the actual headwear of naval uniforms. The sailor headwear worn by children was inspired or actual replicas of that worn by sailors. Sailor headwear was often made with chinstraps because of the windy conditions encountered at sea. Without chinstraps, sailors were likely to lose their caps at sea. The chinstraps were made so they could be tucked into the cap lining and not worn. As far as we cabn tell, children rarely used them. We are not entirely sure why, but many children probably considered them inconvenient. Boys notoriously resist inconventient items. Mothers do not seem to have insisted they be used. As a result, we can not prove from the photographic record that the caps and hats actually came with chinstraps, but we believe that they did. We see a few boys wearing them. Streamers are much more common in the photoigraphic record. Naval caps did have streamers and we see them on the children's caps, although they are often difficult to spot because of the frontal poses. Tallies were another interesrting features of sailor headwear. Sailors on joining the crew of a ship were given tallies (hat bands) with the name of the ship. They were also featured on children's sailor headwear. The children's tallies were commonly famous ships or a ship named after the child's city or state.
German boys commonly wore sailor hats or caps with sailor suits. There were a range of different styles. Boys did not, always, wear sailor headwear with sailor suits. We have notied boys wearing different types of headwear--usually caps. The most non-sailor caps we have noticed is peacked student caps. This was especially common in the early 29th century. They look rather like an army cap, perhaps they evolved from caps worn by military cadets. Theu were very widely worn by German boys. Sailor suits were just one of the outfits they were worn with. We have seen boys wearing these student caps with just about every suit style.
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