Figure 1.--A well dressed American boy in the 1940s and 50s usually wore a peaked cap with a suit, especially an Eton suit. This image comes from a 1970s magazine advertisement.
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Figure 1.--A well dressed American boy in the 1940s and 50s usually wore a peaked cap with a suit, especially an Eton suit. This image comes from a 1970s magazine advertisement. |
Well dressed American boys wearing suits in the 1920s-30s, began wearung solid colored peaked caps. This was less common in Britain as boys were more likely to wear their school caps. Peaked caps were not extensively worn at American schools wear boys did not normally uniforms, but beginning in the 1920s as sailor caps declined in popularity, well dressed boys began to wear peaked caps in colors matching their suits. The peaked cap was worn in America before the 1920s. While it was a popular style, it was not a dominate style. The peaked cap was especially common with the Eton suit worn by younger boys in America. Many American mothers considered it a necessary finishing touch for the Eton suit. Even after graduating to more mature style suits, however, a well dressed American boy from an affluent family might continued to wear a peaked cap until 12 or even 13 years old. These caps were especially common as part of any formal outfit.
Well dressed American boys wearing suits in the 1920s-30s, began wearung solid colored peaked caps. Remember that headwear were very commonly worn in through the early 1950s. Any wide spread gathering would show men and boys wearing hats and caps. Hat were considered more appropriate for formal occasions in the early 1900s until after World War I (1914-18), but by the 1950s, hats were increasingly being seen as inappropriate for boys and this peaked cap was the most formal headwear worn by boys.
Peaked hat were less commonly worn in Britain as the style was more associated with school caps. The style was even less common on the Continent.
Peaked caps were not extensively worn at American schools wear boys did not normally uniforms, but beginning in the 1920s as sailor caps declined in popularity, well dressed boys began to wear peaked caps in colors matching their suits. The peaked cap was worn in America before the 1920s. While it was a popular style, it was not a dominate style. Ny the 1940s, the peaked cap was the style for American boys to wear with a suit. This continued until the late 1950s when it became less common to wear caps and hats. Even so, a n American boy wearing an Eton suit would commonly wear an Eton cap.
The peaked cap was especially common with the Eton suit worn by younger boys in America. Many American mothers considered it a necessary finishing touch for the Eton suit. Even after graduating to more mature style suits, however, a well dressed American boy from an affluent family might continued to wear a peaked cap until 12 or even 13 years old. These caps were especially common as part of any formal outfit. The peaked cap was especially common with short pants suits.
Most of the peaked caps were worn in colors and materials matching a boys suit. The most common colors were grey, blue, and black. Some white caps were also worn.
The style of the peaked cap was fairly standard, but there were variations. The major variarion was the size of the peak which for formal suits could be quite small. Other variaions was the size f the crown and the possible addition of a button top.
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