American Patterns: Harper's Boys' Outfits (1878)


Figure 1.--The outfit here consisted of a "Cutaway Coat," a "Sailor Vest-Blouse" and "Knee Pantaloons". The "panatloons" are not knicker-like trousers, however, but knee pants with the traditional three buttons just above the lower hem. We think that the source may be the June 22, 1878 issue of "Harper's Bazar". It was for a boy 4-9 years of age. Source New York Public Library.

The sailor suit began to become a major fashion style for American boys in the 1870s. We are not sure about the early chronology of sailor suits in America. This is the earliest pattetn we have found todate. It appeared in a 1878 issue of an American fashion magazine, probably Harper's Bazar. The outfit looks rather like a transitional garment. It is a kind of mixture of a cutaway jacket with a sailor suit. We do not nore any of the uniform detailing of a traditional sailor suit. The sailor influence comes from the vest with a dark "V: shaped collar. Note that there appears to a button garment or dickey under the vest. The ad was for a paper pattern to make the suit at home. The outfit was for a boy from 4 to 9 years old, the same age as the tunic suit depicted in the same ad. The outfit consisted of a "Cutaway Coat," a "Sailor Vest-Blouse" and "Knee Pantaloons". The "panatloons" are not knicker-like trousers, however, but kneepants with the traditional three buttons just above the lower hem.







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Created: 4:49 PM 3/8/2005
Last updated: 4:49 PM 3/8/2005