Figure 1.--Even though French postcards commonly depict boys in fancy clothes, images of boys wearing hair bpws are realtively rare. This card was made in the early 1910s. It has been painted pink, but was probably white.

We do not yet have enough information to confidently date the style of tieing hair bows in boys' hair. I believe it began at about the same time as hair bows became popular for girls which would be about the mid-19th Century. Before this time boys, except for the very youngest, wore short hair and hair bows were not commonly worn by girls. The style appears to have been particularly popular during the late 19th Century (1870-1900). Many boys still in dresses wore hairbows in the late 19th Century. Even when dresses became less common after the turn of the century, some boys still wore hairbows, usually with smocks or short pants outfits. They continued to be worn in the years before World War I (1914-1918). A small minority of boys wore them. This is suugested by the fact that only a few are pictured in French postcards--despite the fact that the boys in these cards are often depicted in fancy clothes. The relative importance of this fashion over time is difficilt to asses as boys commonly did not swear hairbows at the time, but just for speciall occasions. Hair bows for boys became much less popular after the War, except for very young boys. Some of the hairbow images are difficult to interpret. The 1920s photograph of the child on the scooter shown here is a case in point. The It may be a a girl as by the late 1920s hairbows for boys had become less common as was long hair for boys. There are several factors, however, suggesting it is a boy. Girls at the time did not commonly wear pants. Other aspects of the photograph suggest that it may be a boy: especially the clothes and shoes. Also this was not the 1990s. You would not expect a girl at the time to jump on a scooter and ride off.

The 19th Century

We do not yet have enough information to confidently date the style of tieing hair bows in boys' hair. We believe it began at about the same time as hair bows became popular for girls which would be about the mid-19th Century. Before this time boys, except for the very youngest, wore short hair and hair bows were not commonly worn by girls. Unfortunately we have virtually no information on the early- and mid-19th century. We know a little more about the late-19th century because photographic images are so much more available. Our French archive is limited, but we have found a few late-19th century images to give an idea of popular syles. We also note illustrations from fashion magazines. The style appears to have been particularly popular during the late 19th Century (1870-1900). Many boys still in dresses wore hairbows in the late 19th Century. We do not notice the ringlet curls that American and English boys wore. We see French boys with long hairss and hair bows, but less commonly with the tightly curled righlets. Most of the school-age boys we see wearung hair bows are from the 19th century. After the turn-of-the 20th century we tend to see younger boys wearing hairbows.

The 20th Century

Even when dresses became less common after the turn of the century, some boys still wore hairbows, usually with smocks or short pants outfits. They continued to be worn in the years before World War I (1914-1918). A good example are two boys, we think nephews of French photographers Paul Lancrenon in 1910. A small minority of boys wore them. This is suugested by the fact that only a few are pictured in French postcards--despite the fact that the boys in these cards are often depicted in fancy clothes. The relative importance of this fashion over time is difficilt to asses as boys commonly did not swear hairbows at the time, but just for speciall occasions. Hair bows for boys became much less popular after the War, except for very young boys. Some of the hairbow images are difficult to interpret. The 1920s photograph of the child on the scooter shown here is a case in point. The It may be a a girl as by the late 1920s hairbows for boys had become less common as was long hair for boys. There are several factors, however, suggesting it is a boy. Girls at the time did not commonly wear pants. Other aspects of the photograph suggest that it may be a boy: especially the clothes and shoes. Also this was not the 1990s. You would not expect a girl at the time to jump on a scooter and ride off.

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Created: November 18, 2001
Last updated: 8:08 AM 5/26/2011