Figure 1.--This boy from Perth Amboy, New Jersey looks to have had his portrait taken in the early 1900s, probably anout 1910. He is probably wearing a new suit. Given the prayer book it may have been a confirmation portrait. He looks to be wearing an Eton collar with a large white floppy bow, Click on the image to see an earlier portrait of the same boy in his First Communion suit.

Collars are one of the most prevalent shirt features. We do not much have much information on the early 19th century. Collars on boys' shirts tended to be very small in the mid-19th century. A good example is the Wallis brothers in 1852. Collars increased in size by the late 19th century. There were different types of collars, most prominantly attached and detachable collars. There were also various collar styles. Younger boys in the late-19th century might wear lace collars. We also note plainer Eton and Peter Pan collars, although that term was not yet used. By the turn of the 20th century, ruffled collars becamme more common. A good example here is a boy in Washington, Pennsylvania about 1905. Many school age boys in the late 19th and early 20th century wore Eton collars when dressing up. By the 1950s preppy styles were popular, Many boys wore shirts with button-down collars. Collarless "T" shirts became increasing popular in the latter patof the 20th century. One reader writes in 2006, "I have great difficulty getting my son who is in 5th grade to dress up. He doesn't even like collared shirts and insists on wearing T-shirts to school because of peer presure. He tells me, 'Mom the other guys don't wear those shirts."

Shirt/Blouse Element

Collars are one of the most prevalent shirt features. Often in the 19th century they were the oinly part of the blouse or shirt that could be seen. Some fancy styles, especially Fauntleroy blouses had matching collars and cuffs. Often the name of collar was how the whole shirt or blouse was reffered to as.

Chronology

We do not much have much information on the early 19th century. Collars on boys' shirts tended to be very small in the mid-19th century. A good example is the Wallis brothers in 1852. Collars increased in size by the late 19th century in some cases becoming huge. We note a range of collar styles for boys in the late 19th century. The governing rule seems to have been that the younger the boys the larger the collar. Younger boys in the late-19th century might wear lace collars and slightly later ruffled collars. Some were quite large and often worn with floppy bows. We also note plainer Eton and Peter Pan collars. These could be quite large as well, but not as large as the lace and ruffled collars By the turn of the 20th century, ruffled collars becamme more common. Many school age boys in the late 19th and early 20th century wore Eton collars when dressing up. Gradually a standard pointed collar became the nost common collar worn. The size of the collar varied. The collar button was often worn buttoned, but in the 1920s soorts collars became popular. By the 1950s preppy styles were popular, Many boys wore shirts with button-down collars. Collarless "T" shirts became increasing popular in the latter part of the 20th century. This was part of the increasing popularity of informal dress. By the turn of the 21st century, many boys had come to see a collared shirt as a dressy shirt style.

Types

There were different types of collars, most prominantly attached and detachable collars.

Styles

There were also various collar styles. Some collar styles were very prominant. Others more modest. Younger boys in the late-19th century might wear lace collars. We also note plainer Eton and Peter Pan collars, although that term was not yet used. By the turn of the 20th century, ruffled collars becamme more common. A good example here is a boy in Washington, Pennsylvania about 1905. Many school age boys in the late 19th and early 20th century wore Eton collars when dressing up. By the 1950s preppy styles were popular, Many boys wore shirts with button-down collars. Collarless "T" shirts became increasing popular in the latter part of the 20th century. One reader writes in 2006, "I have great difficulty getting my son who is in 5th grade to dress up. He doesn't even like collared shirts and insists on wearing T-shirts to school because of peer presure. He tells me, 'Mom the other guys don't wear those shirts."

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Created: 3:02 AM 2/4/2007
Last updated: 10:16 PM 2/12/2007