Figure 1.--This child in an image taken probably about the 1860s wears curls, but styled as carefully as was common later in the century. Notice the pantalettes. This is a difficult image to assess, but the plaid dress and belt suggest a boy.
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Headwear Worn With Ringlet Curls

Most portraits of boys in curls were taken without any headwear. This was surely because the proud mothers wanted the curls to show prominently in the portraits. It was, however, very common to wear headwear in the late 19th and early 20th century. Thus when not being photographed or inside, most of the boys with ringlet curls surly had headwear of some kind. Boys in curls, however, definitely did wear hats. A hat has a full brim and not a partial brim like a cap. The most common style for boys in curls appears to have been sailor hats with large brims, often with elastic chin straps. We thought at first most boys wearing ringlet curls do not appear to have commonly worn caps. Such headgear seems to have more commonly been for older boys, at least boys dressed in more mature styles. We have, however, begun to reassess our initial assessment and now believe the headwear boys wore with ringlets was probably quite varied. It should be noted that hats at the time were not optional gear. Adults and children did not commonly leave home without donning an appropriate headwear.

Photographic Record

Our informaton about ringlet curls comes primarily from the photographic record. But when assessing portraits of boys with ringlet curls, this presents a problem. Most portraits of boys in curls were taken without any headwear. This was surely because the proud mothers wanted the curls to show prominently in the portraits.

Prevalence

It was very common to wear headwear in the late 19th and early 20th century. As headwear has declined in umportance in the second half of the 20h century, this is sometimes misunderstood. Thus when not being photographed or inside, most of the boys with ringlet curls surly had headwear of some kind. It should be noted that hats at the time were not optional gear. Adults and children did not commonly leave home without donning an appropriate headwear.

Headwear Types

We are not entirely sure, however, just what kind f headwear they wore. Boys in curls definitely did wear hats. A hat has a full brim and not a partial brim like a cap. The most common style for boys in curls appears to have been sailor hats with large brims, often with elastic chin straps. We thought at first most boys wearing ringlet curls do not appear to have commonly worn caps. Such headgear seems to have more commonly been for older boys, at least boys dressed in more mature styles. We have, however, begun to reassess our initial assessment and now believe the hedwear boys wore with ringlets was probably quite varied. And in fact we do see portraits of boys with ringlets wearing caps that we would not have associated with that hair style.






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Created: 4:00 AM 9/27/2004
Last edited: 11:15 PM 6/27/2006