Figure 1.--This was a commercially produced English postcard in the early 20th century. The boy wears a tunic suit with kneepanrs. Note the wide white collar. We are not yet sure just how to assess these postcard images. Image courtesy if the MD collection.

I do not know to what extent tunics were worn in the 18th century. I have seen relatively few images of English boys wearing tunics in the early 19th century, but believe that they were widely worn. Tunics were a common style in the early 19th Century and were still being worn at mid-century. While we have few portraits of boys in tunic suits in the early 19th century, we do have several photographic images of English boys wearing tunics at mid-centurty. We note the Tennyson boys wearing tunics in the 1860s, but are unsure how common that was. Early smocks seem to have been more like smocks. I have seen relatively few images of English boys in turn of the 20th century tunic suits in which the tunic and pants match making them tunic suits. The tunics suits worn by American and French boys in the early 20th Century seem much less common in England. English boys seem to have worn short pants suits without the long tunics worn in France and America and were much more plain than the French suits. This is not to say that they were not worn, only that they were not as common.

The 18th Century

I do not know to what extent tunics were worn in the 18th century.

The 19th Century

I have seen relatively few images of English boys wearing tunics in the early 19th century, but believe that they were widely worn. Tunics were a common style in the early 19th Century and were still being worn at mid-century. The development of photography provides solid evidence of this development. While we have few portraits of boys in tunic suits in the early 19th century, we believe tunics were a popular style. We have several photographic images of English boys wearing tunics at mid-centurty. We note the Tennyson boys wearing tunics in the 1860s, but are unsure how common that was. Early smocks seem to have been more like smocks. The popularity of tunics appears to have declined in the late-19th century.

The 20th Century

There was a renewed popularity of tunic suits at the turn-of-the 20th century. The fashion, however, does not seem quite as popular in England as several other countries. I have seen relatively few images of English boys in turn of the 20th century tunic suits in which the tunic and pants match making them tunic suits. The tunics suits worn by American and French boys in the early 20th Century seem much less common in England. English boys seem to have worn short pants suits without the long tunics worn in France and America and were much more plain than the French suits. This is not to say that they were not worn, only that they were not as common.

Created: January 21, 2003
Last updated: 8:18 PM 2/7/2008