Figure 1.--This post card was mailed in Portugal during 1914. We know that sailor suits were popular in Portugal, but we are not positive that the card was made in Portugal. The card style looks rather English to us. It is a commercial card and there is a mark in the lower right hand corner, but we are unable to interpret it. Click on the image to see the message on the back. I believe a uncle has sent it to a nephew to wish him well.

We do not yet have much information on the specific garments worn by Portuguese boys. We believe that it was similar to those worn by boys in the rest of southern Europe. Sailor suits seem to have been a popular style. Climate was a factor. We do not note Portuguese boys wearing heavy suits as common in northern Europe. Sailor suits seem to have been popular, often worn with bloomer knickers or knee pants. Smocks were worn as a school garment, but seem less common for everyday wear. We do not notice long stockings as commonly as in many other European countries. Because of the poverty in the early 20th century, many children went barefoot. The Lisbon town council in 1928 forbade going barefoot in the city. In the photo here we can see a free dispensation of canvas shoes, in order to encourage the use. However a lot of Lisbon inhabitants ignored the town council decree for many years, especially the women and the children. Out of the capital, especially in villages and in the country, the children (and sometimes also the women) went usually barefoot until the economy began to improve after World War II. some decades ago. An Italian reader tells us, "I visited the north of Portugal in September 1979. Except in the towns (Porto and Braga) all the children were barefoot." Since Portugal has joined the European Community, there has bee tremendous economic growth. We suspect that clothing styles are now very similar to those in the rest of Europe. Hopefully our Portuguese readers will provide us some information so we can expand our coverage.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Polish pages:
[Portuguese choirs] [Portuguese movies] [Portuguese orphanages] [Portuguese school uniforms] [Portuguese sailor suits] [Portuguese youth groups]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Main Portuguese page]
[Return to main country page]
[Australia] [Canada] [England] [France] [Germany] [Ireland] [Italy] [New Zealand] [Poland] [Scotland] [United States]

Created: 9:04 PM 3/31/20077
Last updated: 9:04 PM 3/31/2007