Figure 1.--These two Chilean brothers Pedro and Luis Subercaseuse, were painted by Italian artist, Giovanni Bolldini in 1887. They were living in Europe, the sons of a diplomat. They wear rather severe black velvet suits with Eton collars, somewhat larger than the Eton collars commonly worn by English boys. Note one brother has a small bow.

Latin American boys like Chile basically followed European fashion trends, especially wealthy and middle-class boys. Spain may have been important, but other countries, including England, France, and Germany were the major influences. After World War II (1939-45), American fashions became increasingly important. We have very little information on Chile. Hopefully our Chilean readers will provide more information about clothing trends in their country.

Portrait

Note: About the two brothers in the 1887 portrait (figure 1). They clearly show the influence of English fashion, but their father was a diplomat. I'm not sure how common Eton collars were with boys actually living in Chile. The two boys went on to lead very differt lives. Pedro holding the paper became an artist and then switched to the more sober existence of a Benedictine monk. He later built a massive monestary in Santiago. Luis followed his father's footsteps, becoming a diplomat.

Chronologies

Chilean boy's fashions followed the same basic fashion trends as in Europe.

Late 19th Century (1870-1900)

Styles like Eton suits and sailor suits were popular in the late 19th Century. They were commonly worn with kneepants. I'm not sure if Fauntleroy suits and ringlet curls were popular. The one image I have from the 1880s shows two boys wearing rather severe black velvet suits with exagerated Eton rather than Fauntleroy collars and without matching wrist trim.

Early 20th Century (1900-19)

Kneepants continued to be worn in the early 20th Cebntury. While some younger boys began wearing short pants in the 1910s, long pants became increasingly common.

Inter-war Years (1920-45)

Post-war Years (1945- )

Styles

Activities

We have little information on boyhood activities in Chile at this time. We do have some information on Chilean Boy Scouts.

Influences

Latin American boys like Chile basically followed European fashion trends, especially wealthy and middle-class boys. Spain may have been important, but Spain was a declining country by the late 19th Cntury and other countries, especially England, France, and Germany may have been of greater importance. Short pants, however, were never as common in Chile as in Europe. Small boys might wear them, but not older boys. After World War II (1939-45), American fashions became increasingly important.

Families

Family information is quite useful. It provides both valuable sociolgical information as well insights as what adult and girls' fashions were associated with the various boys' fashions discussed in HBC. We have only begun to acquire information on Chilean families and thus have very little material at this time. We note an unidentified Chilean family on a family outing during 1945.

Individuals

A famous Chilean is the child piano prodigy Claudio Arrau (1903- ). H was born in Chie, but went to Germany to studyat the age of 7 years.

Created: September 18, 1998
Last updated: J4:08 PM 12/15/2006