Figure 1.--Here we see Carl in his blue stripped Summer sailor suit consisting of cap, middy blouse, dickey, and kneepants. Thiswould have been a dressy suit. There were also play versions. Drawing by Birte Koch. |
|
Our three brothers underneath were dressed very similarly. All three would have worn union suits. They would also have worn waist suits to hold up pants and long stockings. All three boys would have worn long stockings along the younger boy might have worn socks in the summer. If they had lived in the country they might have gone barefoot, but these are city boys. There outer clothing, however would gave been quite different and affected by their ages. Tom might have worn a tunic suit, Carl a sailor suit, and John a Norfolk suit. There were a variety of other options. Some mothers might have dressed all three boys in sailor suits. Tom mught have also worn a kilt suit in 1900 (but not later in the decade). Another option was a Fauntleroy suit and Carl might alsi have worn a Fauntleroy suit. We have chosen the outer clothing here as most representative of what three middle-class boys might have worn.
Our three brothers underneath might have dressed very similarly, although there were a variety of options available. Children very commonly worn union suits. Actually underwear in 1900 could be quite similar for both boys and girls. We should remember that central heating was not common. It was necessary in cold weather to dress warmly, even when indoors. Union suits were quite common. Separate undershirts and drawers did exist. We will show some variation to indicate the different types of underwear that were available. There was a choice of short or long sleeves and a choice of whether the legs of the knee-length underpants are close-fitting or loose. Here there was no gender difference. Boys and girls could wear any of these garments. The wrists of all long-sleeve union suits were knitted elastically (like modern sweatshirts or sweaters). There would have been drop-seats closed with buttons. The ankle openings on the long-leg union suits were also knitted like the wrists so that the legs would fit tightly like the sleeves. The short-leg union suits were knitted also around the leg opening so that they would cling tightly to the thigh. Union suits were made with with knee-length and ankle-length legs. Both styles were worn in 1900. Union suits with knee-length legs were worn with short sleeves. The short legs and short sleeves always seem to go together. But boys sometimes had short sleeves and long legs or long sleeves and long legs. The only thing we don't see is long sleeves and short legs.
The boys would also have worn waist suits to hold up their pants and long stockings. All of these children could have worn the same support garments. There were several different choices for mothers to choose from. The choices could be affected by age. We will show some different choices both to reflect both age differences and show some of the different garments available.
The children in 1900 probably would have worn a underwaist. The most likely possibility is a sleeveless knitted bodice with rows of buttons around the waist for attaching knee pants and other garments. It might have two cloth loops at the sides (which you can't really see) for pinning on the hose supporters for long stockings. The garters had safety pins at the top for attachment to the underwaist. Of course the underwaist is worn over the other underwear which may have long or short sleeves. All three boys would have worn long stockings along the younger boy might have worn socks in the summer. If they had lived in the country they might have gone barefoot, but these are city boys.
The outer clothing of the childre, unlike their underwear, could be quite destinctive. Some parents like to dress the children all the same. Other parents believed in strict age grading. They believed that the clothes should be quite different and affected by their ages. Here we are going to illustrate the second option so as to show a variety of outfits. Tom might have worn a tunic suit, Carl a sailor suit, and John a Norfolk suit. There were a variety of other options. Some mothers might have dressed all three boys in sailor suits. Tom mught have also worn a kilt suit in 1900 (but not later in the decade). Another option was a Fauntleroy suit and Carl might alsi have worn a Fauntleroy suit. We have chosen the outer clothing here as most representative of what three middle-class boys might have worn.For more informal clothes informal clothes Carl and John might have wirn a blouse (also called a waist sometimes) and knee pants.
HBC
|
Album1900
|
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main U.S. Getting Dressed chronology page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Essays]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[ Boys' Clothing Home]
