Figure 1.--Here we see Carl in a short-sleeve union suit. Duringbthe winter he probably would have worn one with long ankle length legs. Click in the image to see a back view. |
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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.
Tom might have worn a union suit like his brothers, but separate under shirts and drawers were also an alternative. We will picture him in separate undershirts and underpants. This was somewhat more common for younger boys and girls. The
undershirt can have long sleeves and should button down the front--probably only about half-way down the front, although completely down the front is possible, I suppose. The underpants should be short and have a button fly in front. They don't button to the undershirt, but they might button to the underwaist, although not necessarily.
Carls wears a union suit. These were very commonly worn in 1900. Here we see him wearing a union suit that he wore suing the summer with short sleeves and knee-length legs. Suring the Winter he would have had one with ankle-length legs. This is why boys in some portrait wear rather lumpy-looking long stockings. There was a button drip-seat back. Click in the image for a back view.
John like Carl wore a union suit. Here we see John wearing a union suit with long, ankle-length legs. These came with both long a short sleeves. John probably would have worn long-leg long johns during the Winter. He probably had knee-length union suits for Summer wear as he still wore kneepants. Once he graduaye to long trousers he probably would have only worn long-leg union suits.
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