Figure 1.--Formal dress was very important in the 1900s, at least for those who could afford it. Samuel E. Peck offered this kneepants tuxedo for boys age 8 to 16 years. There was also a youth's version for boys 14-20 years. It may have been done in long pants, but here we are not sure. Notice the important white gloves and the model's center hair part. |
We have begun to develop some basic information on 1903. Many little boys still wore dresses in 1903. Two of the most popular styles for boys tunic suits and sailor suits. For dress occassions boys might still wear Fauntleroy suits. Sailor suits were made for boys age 3-10 years. Single and double breasted suits were commonly made for boys to age 15 years. Boys in 1903 commonly wore kneepants suits. One of the most popular suits was the Norfolk suit. We note an ad for S.W. Peck & Co. Norfolk suits im the The Youth's Companion, one of the leading weekly periodicals in America at the time. We also notice formal tuxeods. Formal wear was still very important, at least for those who could afford it. We note another ad for "four-thread stockings" manufactured by the York Knitting Mills Co. This ad appeared in The Youth's Companion The ad showed black long stockings, the most common color at the time. The Best & Co offered what it called a Rugby waist. These companies as well as Sears and Wards offered catalogs with lines of children's clothing.
Many little boys still wore dresses in 1903.
We note a range of blouses and waists for boys. Some were made with large collars and sailor back flaps. Others were made with smaller pointed collars. Both blouses and waists were made without shirt tails. The difference between blouses and waists is not clearly defined. Blouses are usually for younger boys and done in a variety of juvenile styles. Blouses might butoon on to the waist band, but some blouced over the waist. Waists were usually done in more mature styles. They always buttoned on to the pants (trousers) at the waist.
One of the most popular styles for younger boys were various styles of tunic suits. They were called various names at the time. One popular term was Russian blouse. They were also called a child's dress. A good example is one depicted in New Idea magazine.
Younger boys for dress occassions boys might still wear Fauntleroy suits.
The sailor suit continued to be a populasr style for boys. Sailor suits were made for boys age 3-10 years.
We notice both single and double breasted suits. Single and double breasted suits were commonly made for boys to age 15 years. Boys in 1903 commonly wore kneepants suits. One of the most popular suits was the Norfolk suit. We note an ad for S.W. Peck & Co. Norfolk suits im the The Youth's Companion, one of the leading weekly periodicals in America at the time. We also notice Peck offering formal tuxeods. Formal wear was still very important, at least for those who could afford it.
We notice a varierty of sweaters offered for sale, both cotton and wool. A popular style at the turn-of-the-century was turtle necks which were reffered to as roll-neck sweaters.
We notice a range of coats for boys. There were still cape coats for boys. Reefer coats were available for both younger and older boys. There were a range of different overcoat styles.
We note another ad for "four-thread stockings" manufactured by the York Knitting Mills Co. This ad appeared in The Youth's Companion The ad showed black long stockings, the most common color at the time.
We do not yet have detailed information about underwear offered in 1903 catalogs. Many underwear garments look old-fashjioned and are no longer worn today. We do note garments like union suits, combination belt, and hose supporter. An important role of underwear at the turn-of-the-century was to support other garments. The Best & Co offered what it called a Rugby waist. These companies as well as Sears and Wards offered catalogs with lines of children's clothing.
One interesting factor to observe in old catalogs and catalogs is the age groupings. Modern age groups are generally pre school children, ages 2-6, primary school children (6-12), and teen agers (12-18). These are approximations and there are vaiations, but these generally are the basic groupings. We note sailor suits done for ages 3-10. Note that Sears offered boys kneepants suits for boys from age 8-15, a quite different age grouping than modern suit age sizing.
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