Figure 1.--We believe that tunic suits were especially popular for boys from affluent families. We do not mean specifically rich families, but at least middle-classc families in comfortable circumstance. We know nothing aboput this boy. The immaculate grooming, white socks, and strap shoes all point to an affluent family. A portrait from a professional stufdio is another indication. Note the bows on the twin strap shoes. The portrait is undated, but the mount suggests the 1910s to us. Source: HBC archive.

We see many boys wearing tunics in early- and mid-19th century. Our information is fairly limited. It looks to us that they were mostly worn by relatively affluent boys in towns and cities. Tunics styled somewhat differently were also widely worn in America in the late 19th and early 20th century. We are not sure yet if there were social class conventions. Our general assessment is that they were worn by a wide cross section of American boys, but probably more commonly middle- and upper-class boys. This seems to be situation based on the portraits we have found. Of course it is difficult to know much about the family from unidntified portraits. The well grommed children and the background of snapshots suggest to us that tunics were mich more for children from affluent families. The shoes or sandals the boys are wearing are also an indicator. Sandals and strap shoes were also more common with affluent families.

Created: 5:04 AM 7/7/2008
Last edited: 5:04 AM 7/7/2008