Scottish Sailor Suits: 19th Century Chronology--The 1880s


Figure 1.-- This CDV portrait shows Lonsdale Hall McIntosh, aged 3 years & 5 months. He wears a velvet sailor suit with both traditional stripe detailing. (In this case four rather than three stripes, not only on the collar, but repeated on the pants.) There are additions such as ruffled collar. Notice the socks rather tahn long stockings. You do not see this in America. The portrait was taken September 1880. The photographer was Stuart which has studios in Helensburgh and Glasgow.

We see many more sailor suits in the photographic record during the 1880s. We think they were more popular in England, but we see quite a few Scottish boys wearing sailor suits in the 1880s. The sailor suit had become an important style for boys. We see both traditionally styled suits and more varied style diverging from Royal Navy uniforms to a degree. We see a range of styles. There were both matching blouses and pants as well as white blouses and drk knee pants. We continue to see a range of complications such as mixed collars. We see double sailor collars or additions such as ruffled collars. The great appeal of the sailor suit was its simplicity, but mothers during the late-19th century could not help themselves by adding a range of decorative touches. Some suits had the three-stripe detailing. There were age conventions. Some younger boys might have velvet sailor suits. The outfit here is a good example (figure 1). We see, for example, button jackets rather than just the pull-over blouse Royal Navy sailors wore. The pants stil might have stripes. We have found several exaples of Scottish boys wearing sailor suits in the 1880s. The styles was well established by this time. We also begin to see knee pants becoming standard, at least for the younger boys. They were mostly worn with long stockings, although younger boys might wear socks, unlike the long stocks commonly white.

Prevalence

We see many more sailor suits in the photographic record during the 1880s. We think they were more popular in England, but we see quite a few Scottish boys wearing sailor suits in the 1880s. The sailor suit had become an important style for boys.

Garments

Many sailor outfits were dome with matching or coordinted headwear. The headwear, however, isoften nt worn for the studio portraitts. We see both traditionally styled suits and more varied style diverging from Royal Navy uniforms to a degree. We see a range of styles. Most of the styling was on the blouse. There were both matching blouses and pants as well as white blouses and dark knee pants. We see, for example, button jackets rather than just the pull-over blouse Royal Navy sailors wore. The pants stil might have stripes. We have found several exaples of Scottish boys wearing sailor suits in the 1880s. The styles was well established by this time. We also begin to see knee pants becoming standard. In the 1870s, the blouse styling was often continued on to the pants. This began to become less common in the 1880, especially the end of the decade.

Mixed Collars

We continue to see a range of complications such as mixed collars. We see double sailor collars or additions such as ruffled collars. The great appeal of the sailor suit was its simplicity, but mothers during the late-19th century could not help themselves by adding a range of decorative touches. The velvet suit the boy here is wearing is a good example.

Detailing

Stripe detailing is strongly associated with sailor suits. We see the stripes being used in various ways. By the end of the decade we see more and more sailor suits with collars that had three-stripe detailing.

Ages

We do not yet have enough Scottish images to establis age trends. We think it was mostly younger boys wearing sailor suits, but by th 1880s we begon to see older boys wearing There were age conventions. Some younger boys might have velvet sailor suits. The outfit here is a good example (figure 1). The boy looks to be about 3 years old.

Hosiery

Sailor suits in Scotland during the 1880s were mostly worn with long stockings, although younger boys might wear socks like the biy here (figure 1). Unlike the long stocks, the socks were commonly white.







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Created: 3:25 AM 8/7/2015
Last updated: 3:43 AM 3/11/2018