Figure 1.--The location of the photographer who took this cabinent card portrait is not indicated, but we believe the children are American. The brother and sister wear matching white dresses. They could be light pastels, but white seems more likely. Note that they are being worn with what looks like black long stockings.

There are not real gender connottions for white clothing. White is worn by men and women and children of all ages. The only exception we can think of here is white long stockings and kneesocks, although this has varied over time and among countries. White has become a symbol for the innocense of childhood. This appears to have been a inovation of the late late 18th century. Earlier Europeans did not look of childhood as an era of innosence. The concept was promoted in the writings of authors like Rosseau and by the late 18th Century had become increasingly accepted. This in part explains the popularity of white for Empire dresses in the late 18th and early 19th century. White also had the advantage of being a very practical color for younger children. Their clothes require constant washing. Colored garments would was out. White of course would not be affected by constant washings. A reader writes, "My understanding about white dresses for youngsters from a visit to Sturbridge village is that white was easiest to clean. You could bleach out most stains whereas colors were much harder to remove stains without damaging the color until fast colors (washing safe or non bleeding dies) were invented."

Created: 7:47 PM 3/2/2008
Last updated: 7:47 PM 3/2/2008