Figure 1.--This CDV portrait, probably taken in the 1860s, shows a boy about 5-6 years old. The studio was Chas. A. Saylor in Reading, Pennsylvania. Notice is matching hat.

Decoration was a destinctive aspect of suits for younger boys. We see some tunic suits with similar styling. The suits were often heavily decorated with piping, embroidery, and buttons. This decoration was only used for these younger boy suits. Older boys wore plainer clothing. We notice a wide range of decoration. We are not sure how to describe the vrious decorative styles. Applique seems the most common. but there was also embroidery. Some decorations was slanted. We see jig-saw styling and wavy patterns. This decorative trim was often places at the edges of the jacket, although here there was also considerable variation. Stripes were popular on the pants. While many of these suits were done with decorative trim, we also notice plain suits with limited decoration. Some suits had virtually no decoration. Some suits had cotrasting trim such as on the collar and and wrist cuff. This also varied. The most common convention for these decorative aplique was dark trim on light-colored suits, but we also see light decorations or dark suits. We do not notice the elaborate decoirative collars like the large lace and ruffled collars that became popular in the 1880s.

Created: 1:36 AM 4/18/2009
Last updated: 1:36 AM 4/18/2009