Figure 1.-- The inscription on the back reads "Mrs. E. Griffith, 1885, John", So presumably the boy is John Griffith. The photographer was F. Jay Haynes at Fargo in the Dakota Territory. Notice that John is dressed as fashionably as a New York boy. Hohn wears a fashionable kilt suit with mock double-breasted styling.

We boys wearing fashionable kilt suits throughout the country. We believe that fancy clothes in the early-19th century were largely found in the larger northeastern cities. This was not the case by the late-19th century. We see boys in the 1880s wearing outfits like kilt suits throughout the country. And we do not just see them in large cities, but also towns of any size. All kinds of different factors were involved here. One very important factor was the industrialization which was creating vast wealth. Large number of Americans coming from very modest families were achieving real financial success. And we see this affluence reflected in towns all over America. Another factor was the improved comminications brought by the railroads. Major mail order houses were operating. Magazines depicted popular styles and apperns were easily available. This made the lastest in big city fashions available all over the country. Thus boys in the most remote corners of America could dress as elegantly as in New York and Philadelphia.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing kilt pages:
[Return to the Main American kilt suit 1880s page]
[Return to the Main American kilt suit chronology page]
[Return to the Main American kilt suit page]
[Return to the Main kilt page]
[Lace collar] [Floppy bows] [Cut-away jackets] [Kilt suits] [Stiped long stockings] [Shoes]
[Scottish kilts] [Scottish boys clothing] [Scottish school uniform] [Highland dance]
[Irish kilts] [Irish boys clothing] [Irish step dancing]
[Greek kilts]

Created: 10:14 AM 1/23/2011
Last updated: 10:14 AM 1/23/2011