United States Boys' Clothes Chronology: Age Trends (Late-19th Century)


Figure 3--Here we see three unidentified children, presumably siblings, in acabinet-card portrait. The children look to be about 5-10 years old. The portrait looks to have been taken in the 1890s. The younger boy wears a Fauntleroy suit. The older boy wears a sailor suit. The studio was Shackell & Clauss in New York City.

We note destinctive age trends associated with boys clothes in the late-19th century. They varied from family to family with the mother commonly deciding on the clothes for the girls and pre-teen boys. Social class was also a factor with more affluent families often more concerne with age grading, in part because they were more concerned about appearances social status and could afford to do something about it. Younger boys wore skirted garments. The kilt suit might be used as a traditional garment. The age of breaching varied from family to family. Garments included dresses, kilts, kilt suits, and tunics. After breeching the boys might wear Funtleroy suits, sailor uits, and a range of regular suits, including cut-away jacket and Norfolk suits. Younger boys wore the cut-awwy jacket and commonly progressed to more mature suits. Sailor suits ere also popular after a boy graduated from Fauntleroy suits. Some younger boys might have both, using the Fauntleroy outfit for parties or other dressy occassions. Neckwear often played a major role in age grading. The younger boys might wear large floppy bows. We note bows being added to a variety of outfits. Pre-teen boys wearing regular suits might wear floppy bows.











HBC





Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main U.S. early late-19th century chronology page]
[Return to the Main U.S. Country Page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]





Created: 4:57 PM 3/8/2013
Last updated: 4:57 PM 3/8/2013