Figure 1.--Some mothers liked to dress siblings in identical or coordinated outfits. This anonamous portrait by an American primitive shows the red-headed Congdon brothers in identical skeleton suits about 1830. Large ruffled collars for boys disappeared after this portrait was painted and were not generally worn by boys again until the Fauntleroy craze of the late-19th century. You cab tekk that this was an early ruffkled collar because the collar is not tight against the neck as was always the case during the Fauntleroy era.

One popular convention was to dress boys of similar age in similar or coordinated outfits. If there were young enough boys and girls in a family during the 19th century, they could even be dressed alike. This was, however less common than dressing the like-gender siblings in identical outfits. A degree of coordination was also possible. This varied from family to family depending primarily on the fashion inclinations of mother. Father generally did not interfere in such matters with the younger children, although he might when the boys got older. We see quite a number of American children wearing identical outfits in the photographic record. The sailor suit was an important garment used in these identical or coordinated outfits, perhaps not as important as in Europe, but still commonly used in America. Sailor suits and sailor styling was, however, one of many styles. We do not think that corrdinated dressing was as common as in Germany, but we have found quite a few American examples. Many of these identicalm or coordinated outfits are from the 19th or early-20th century, in part because families tended to be larger in the 19th century. One of the best known example of brothers and sisters dressed alike is Ernest Hemmingway in the early 1900s. His mother Grace loved to dress him and his older sister in identical frocks. At the time it was not unusual for sometimes quite big boys to wear dresses. Often the dresses worn by boys would have some boyish touches, perhaps the color or plainer style to identify the boy's gender. Grace Hemmingway, however, dressed Earnest and his sister in absolutely identical outfits. This fashion was passing, however, and Earnest's younger brother Leister, named after his uncle, was not outfitted in dresses. There were of course many other outfits used for fressing children in identical or coordinated outfits. One of these was the sailor suit, although it was not as important as in Germany.

Gender

Gender was an important factor in coordinating outfits for siblings. One popular convention was to dress boys of similar age in similar or coordinated outfits. This was also done for for girls, but seems somewhat less commpn, perhaps because even younger girls seemed more concerned about their clothing. If there were young enough boys and girls in a family during the 19th century, they could even be dressed alike. This in the 19th century meant dressing the boys in dresses and other skirted garments because girls did not begin wearing pants until well into the 20th century. Using the photographic record to assess such trends is complicated by the fact that it is not always possible to assess tghe gender of younger children from a photograph, especailly as the boys might wear dresses and have longer hair styles such as ringlet curls. Coordinated the dress of differet gender siblings was less common than dressing the like-gender siblings in identical outfits. Identical outfits were not the only option. A degree of coordination was also possible. This varied from family to family depending primarily on the fashion inclinations of mother. Fathers generally did not interfere in such matters with the younger childten, although he might when the boys got older.

Country Trends

We see quite a number of American children wearing identical outfits in the photographic record. We do not think that coordinated dressing was as common as in Euope, especially Germany, but we have found quite a few American examples.

Garments

The garments used for identical/coordinating the dress of children, usully determined by mothers, were significantly affected by the garments selected. Here gender was a major factor. Dressing the same gender alike was a relatively a simple matter. Mixed gender families, far more complicated. Skirted garments coukld only be used for younger children unlss the older children were all girls. This could be broadened somewhat if rather than dresses the boys were done up in blouses with similar tops to the girls' dresses. Smocks could be used, although they were generally limited to a few countries. The same issue also related to girls because until after World War II, it wa not coommon for girls to wear pants, including short pants. Again corrdination could deal weih this. Children could be coordinasted with the same sailor blouses and pants for the boys and skirts for the girls. We do not have a lot of examples to work with here as coordinating outfits were not as common in America as in Europe.

Styles

There were of course many other outfits used for dressing children in idebtical or coordinate outfits. One of these was the sailor suit, althoug it was not as important as in Germany. The sailor suit was an important garment used in these identical or coordinated outfits, perhaps not as important as in Europe, but still commonly used in America. Sailor suits and sailor styling was, however, just one of many styles.

Chronological Styles

We do not have much information on identical or coordinated outfits in the 18th century. We also have limited information on the early-19th century. Here we have an example of to brothers dressed alike, we think in the 1830s. The invention of photography in 1839 resulted in much more detailed information on fashion begionning in the mid-19th century. Many of these identical or outfits are from the late- 19th or early-20th century. We think this wa because coordinating outfits became more common, however, the graeter availabiolity of imagery may distort actual prevalence. A variety of factors were involved here. One was families tended to be larger in the 19th century when most Amwericans lived in rural areas on farms. Urbanization and improved medical technology has made for smaller families. Another factor i the appearance of ready-made clothing. This allowed mothers to purchase the same exact outfit in many different sizes.

Hair Styling

Individuals

One of the best known example of brothers and sisters dressed alike is Ernest Hemmingway in the early 1900s. His mother Grace loved to dress him and his older sister in identical frocks. At the time it was not unusual for sometimes quite big boys to wear dresses. Often the dresses worn by boys would have some boyish touches, perhaps the color or plainer style to identify the boy's gender. Grace Hemmingway, however, dressed Earnest and his sister in absolutely identical outfits. This fashion was passing, however, and Earnest's younger brother Leister, named after his uncle, was not outfitted in dresses. We have archived a number of examoles on HBC, although often the chikdren are not identified.

Created: 3:56 AM 9/20/2010
Last updated: 10:49 AM 8/29/2021