Edward VIII: Sailor Suits--Garments

Edward VIII sailor suit
Figure 1.--Here we see David at about 5-6 years of age, prrsumabky about 1900. His sailor suit is asmall edition of a Royal Navy enlisted man (rateing).

We have noted David and his siblings wearing a variety of sailor suits and sailor suit garments. We notice both white and dark (presumably navy blue suits. We see photographs of David and his brothers wearing sailor caps. They wore middy blouses with kilt skirts, kneepants and long (bell botton) trousers. We do not entirely understand the choice of trousers. Age was a factor, but not the only factor. Here we see Bertie wearing a middy blouse with a kilt and his only slightly older brother David weraring his identical middy blouse with kneepants. We have also noted them wearing reefer jackets. The suits as very young children were stylized, but by the time they are about 5 years old they are wearing littlecreloicas of Royal Navy unifoms. An exception here were the trousers whoch could be knee pants.

Color

We notice both white and dark (presumably navy blue suits. We think here the governing factor was seasonality.

Styling

The suits as very young children were stylized, but by the time they are about 5 years old they are wearing little relpicas of Royal Navy unifoms. An exception here were the trousers whoch could be knee pants.

Individual Garments

Quite a few photographs were taken of the royal children so we know a good bit about the sailor suits and garments they wore,

Headwear

We see photographs of David and his brothers wearing sailor caps. We notice in particular soft caps.

Reefer Jackets

We have also noted them wearing reefer jackets.

Accessories

David wore a blavk silk scarfe on his middy blouse, just like Royal Navy sailors. Also notice lanyard. Theoretically there would be abrass whistle attached. But I doubt if his father wanted the children tooting on whistles all day long.

Middy Blouse

The children normally wore traditionally styled middy blouses.

Bottoms

David and his brothers and sisters wore their sailor suits with kilt skirts, kneepants and long (bell botton) trousers. We see Bertie in one portrait wearing a middy blouse with a kilt and his only slightly older brother David weraring his identical middy blouse with kneepants. The kilt skirt was just when the boys were very young. We do not entirely understand the choice of trousers. Age was a factor, but not the only factor. We notice David here at 5-6 years weaing lon bell-bottom trousers (figure 1), but at age 8 he is wearing knee pants. Formality may havebeen a factor explaining the difference.

Hosiery

As uounger children the boys wore white socks. As older boys we notice darl long stockings.







HBRC








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Created: 1:18 AM 5/6/2007
Last updated: 1:18 AM 5/6/2007