Figure 1.--This American brother and sister weari different outfits, but notice not only do they both wear the same ringlet curls, but their stockings and sandals are identical. Stockings and shoes in the early 20th century did not yet have strong gender associations as is the case today. The photograph was taken about 1910. |
Usually mothers coordinated the clothing of their boys and girls. Less common was coordinating hair styles. This usually meant letting a boys' hair grow long and not cutting a girls' hair short. This was most common in the late 19th century and early 20th century before World War I (1914-18). When the hair was coordinated, usually the children were dressed differently. HBC knows of few instances when both hair and clothes were coordinated, although it was not unknown.
Usually mothers coordinated the clothing of their boys and girls. Less common was coordinating hair styles. This usually meant letting a boys' hair grow long and not cutting a girls' hair short. The fashion of coordinating hair styles generally disappeared in the 1920s. Girls began wearing shorter hair in the 1920s and it is often difficult to identify gender. Formerly it was because somd boys swore long hair. By the 1920s it was because some girls wore short hair. Mothers in general, however, did not coordinate hair stles as simechad done before World War I.
This was most common in the late 19th century and early 20th century before World War I (1914-18). When the hair was coordinated, usually the children were dressed differently. Hair styles merged in the 1920s as girls wore shorter hair and boys less commonly wore long ringlets. Thus some styles such as bangs with above the shoulder hair were worn by younger boys and girls. Long hair became fasionable for boys in the 1960s and 70s, but this was at first primarily a teen fashion and parents did not approve. While some mothers coordinated their sons' and daughters' clothes at this time, few did so with hair styles.
HBC knows of few instances when both hair and clothes were coordinated, although it was not unknown. One such exception was Earnest Hemmingway, but HBC does not think this was very common.
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