Brother-Sister Outfits: Styling

Figure 1.--These American children had their portrait taken, probably in the late 1940s. Notice the identical collar styling. Also notuce how the button trim is also identical. The boy's shirt is also the same color as his older sister's dress.

As gender destinctive clothing became more fixed, even for younger, children, mothers less commonly dressed brothers and sisters in identical or similar outfits. Some mother adopted the fashion of replicating a stylistic detail on very different types of clothing as a way of cordinating the outfits of brothers and sisters. Here there were many possibilities such as the collar type and detailing or other elements such as sleeves, buttons, pockets, ect. Color patterms could also be employed in conjectn with these stylistic details. We have noted this technique in America. We have less information on Europe, but believe it was done there as well.

Created: December 12, 2002
Last updated: December 12, 2002