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Some younger boys wore dresses, but this was much less common in the 20th century, especially by the 1910s. There were a variety of outfits for younger boys. Younger boys wore rompers, tunics, Oliver Twist suits, sailor suits and other outfits. A very popular style for boys Tom age was the tunic suit. We also see many boys wearing a variety of button-on outfits such as Oliver Twist and sailor suits.
A very popular style for boys' Tom age was the tunic suit. We note Russian blouse/tunic suits for boys from 2 1/2 up to 6 years of age. We also see many boys wearing button-on outfits such as Oliver Twist suits because the button-on styling was rather like the skeleton suits worn in the early 19th century (the era in which Dickens set Oliver Twist). Button on styles were increasingly popular in the 1910s and the Oliver Twist suits are a primary example of this. Sailor suits were also made with button-on srtling. Wide brimmed hats were popular, but were often turned down. Soft sailor caps were also worn, some rather like tams.
We have chosen a romper suit for Tom, but is just one of several different suits he might have worn. Boys and girls both wore rompers, the only outfit that both could have worn. Romper suits were made in different style and a wide range of detailing.
School age boys like Carl wore more mature styles. Sailor suits were still popular. Younger boys upto 10 years wore blouses without suit jackets with knee pants during the summer. Another favourite was the sailor suit.
Younger school-age boys wore variously styled suits, oten with straight-leg knee pants. Large collars were still popular for younger boys, but not as large or fancy as in the 1900s. Knickers had become popular in the 1910s and boy's John'a age would probably had a knicers suit. Both double breasted and Norfolk styles (from 8 to 16 years of age) were popular. In the United States knickerbocker pants were called just knickers. In the 1910s knickers more and more replaced knee pants for older boys. Boys began wearing knee socks in the 1910s, but long stockings were much more common, especially black long stockings. A variety of cap styles wee worn, but the flat cap was the most popular style for school-age boys.
We have chosen three representative outfits for the boys, but there was a range of other possible styles. We have chosen the outer clothing here as most representative of what three middle-class boys might have worn. It is very likely that Tom, for example, also had a tunic suit.
Some younger boys wore dresses, but this was much less common in the 20th century, especially by the 1910s. There were a variety of outfits for younger boys. Younger boys wore rompers, tunics, Oliver Twist suits, sailor suits and other outfits. A very popular style for boys Tom age was the tunic suit. We also see many boys wearing a variety of button-on outfits such as Oliver Twist and sailor suits. A very popular style for boys' Tom age was the tunic suit. We note Russian blouse/tunic suits for boys from 2 1/2 up to 6 years of age. We also see many boys wearing button-on outfits such as Oliver Twist suits because the button-on styling was rather like the skeleton suits worn in the early 19th century (the era in which Dickens set Oliver Twist). Button on styles were increasingly popular in the 1910s and the Oliver Twist suits are a primary example of this. Sailor suits were also made with button-on srtling. Wide brimmed hats were popular, but were often turned down. This is a destinctive style for the 1910s. Soft sailor caps were also worn, some rather like tams. We have chosen a romper suit for Tom, but is just one of several different suits he might have worn. Boys and girls both wore rompers, the only outfit that both could have worn. Romper suits were made in different style and a wide range of detailing. A variety of cap styles were worn, but the flat cap was the most popular style for school-age boys. Younger boys like Tom often wore strap shoes, the ankle strap shoe was a popular choice when dressing up.
Younger school age boys like Carl wore more mature styles. Boys still commonly wore suits to school. Sailor suits were still popular, although only worn by a minority of boys to school. Younger boys up to 10 years wore blouses without suit jackets with knee pants during the summer. Another favourite was the sailor suit. Yonger school-age boys wore variously styled suits, oten with straight-leg knee pants. Here we see Carl in a white blouse and matching bloomer knickers. It is a white suit with red trim. There is a detachavle dickey with an embroidered red anchor--a popular nutical motif. The bloomer knickers were the same pants worn with tunic suits at the time. We are not entirely sure how bloomer knickers were suspended. Some for tunic suits had bodies, but we do not hink this was common for sailor suits. The blocing at the leg was done by drawstrings in the leg hem. Older boys were mostly wearing proper knickers, but we note that younger boys were wearing both knee pants and bloomer knickers. Short pants were not yet common. I am not entirely sure hy this difference existed, but knee pants whuch had been so common were now increasingly being seen as only approprie for younger boys. This would have been a style worn during the summer. Carl is wearing black long stockings. He might have also worn white socks during the summer. Buring the winter he would have worn long stockings. Boys Carl's age also commonly wore blouses. Large collars were still popular, but not as popular as in the 1900s. They were not as large or as fancy as in the 1900s. Often they were done in a modified sailor style and with a very simple loose tie.
John would have worn a flap cap. A more formal hat was possible with a suit. John might have worn a boater during the summer, but flat caps were the most popular boy's headwear. Center-parts were a popular hair style. Knickers had become popular in the 1910s and boy's John'a age would probably had a knickers suit. Straight-leg Knee pants had not disaapeared, but knicker suits were much more common. Both single-breasted, double breasted, and Norfolk styles (from 8 to 16 years of age) were popular. Here we picture John with a double-breasted jacket. It had medium-wide lapels and fell a little longer than modern jackets. It had two side flap pockets. The jacket had a twill lining. Note that the bottom of the jacket is not cut away. . Note the white handkerchief in the jacket pocket. The suit is navy blue with a flat-weave. Boys also wore suits with pattern weaves, but boys from solid middle-class families commonly had a conservative navy-blue suit for best wear. For ordinary school days he wore shirts with a soft collar an neck tie. For sopeciall occassions he wore an Eton collsar. They were made with a full cut. In the United States knickerbocker pants were being referred to as just knickers for short. The knickers had two side and hip pockets. There was a strap and buckle closure at the knee. In the 1910s knickers more and more replaced knee pants for older boys. Boys began wearing knee socks in the 1910s, but long stockings were much more common, especially black long stockings. John would have worn black long stockings with this suit along with high-top shoes.
There were a variety of other options for the boys. Besides the garments pictures, on the different pages for the boys we have discussed some of the options. Another important option was dressing all three boys in the same outfit. The appropriate outfit was affected by the age of the boys. If they were all younger boys an outfit like a tunic suit could be chosen. During the summer the boys mighwear blouses and knee pants. As the age range widebed, so sid the choice of garments. A style had to be selected that was not to mature for Tom or to juvenile for John. Here about the only appropriate garment for these rhree boys would have been the sailor suit.
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