Figure 1.--This studio portrait shows two unidentified brothers about 5-8 years old. The ragged paper framed portrait is undated, but looks like the 1910s, the very early-1920s is possible. The younger boy wears a tunic suit done in a heavy weight material. His older brother wears a Norfolk knickers suit. Both boys have destinctive Eton collar, although the younger boy has a larger collar. Both are probably detachable collar. Note the younger boy's neckwear is not tied in a bow as was common earlier.

We are not sure at this time about tunic seasonal conventions. This is something that is fairly easy to assess in the photographic record. There are two types, winter and summer tunics. The winter/fall tunics are cold weather garments tunics done with heavy fabrics. Here we have a winter tunic (figure 1). The summer/spring tunics are warm weather garments done with light-weight fabrics. We do not have a lot of information about 19th century tunics, especially the early-19th century before photography. Our archive is fairly limited during the first half of the 19th century. The 19th century examples we have found do not suggest seasonal specialization. At least we do not note boys wearing light-colored tunics or tunics done in light-weight fabric. But as our archive is still fairly limited and we can not yet make a valid assessment. this changes at the turn-of-the 20th century. We begin to notice far more images in the photographic record. And we have mail order catalogs. We believe that this is at least in part a reflection of prevalence. The difference is substantial enough to firmly show a well-established seasonal preference on the part of mothers. The tunics we see beginning at the turn-of-the century were primarily a summer outfit. Not all are tunics, but a substantial majority of the images in our archive tend to be the summer ones. We note far more summer tunics than winter tunics in the 1900s and 10s photographic record. This also seems to be the case in period catalogs. We see far more offerings for spring-summer tunics. This includes both family snapshots and studio portraits. Studio portraits are taken inside, by light colors and light-weight material distinguish spring-summer tunics as opposed to fall-winter tunics. The Indiana boy on the previous page is clearly wearing a light-weight spring-summer tunic. The unidentified younger boy here is clearly wearing a dark, heavy-weight fabric tunic suit (figure 1). And of course outdoor snapshots normally include seasonal clues. We are not sure just at this time just why tunics would be more common for summer wear seems to be the case.

Photographic Record

We are not sure at this time about tunic seasonal conventions. This is something that is fairly easy to assess in the photographic record. Indoor 19th century studio portraits commonly do not reveal seasonality. Outdoor snapshots on the otherhand often include seasonal clues.

Types

There are two types of tunics, winter and summer tunics. The winter/fall tunics are cold weather garments tunics done with heavy fabrics. Here we have a winter tunic (figure 1). The summer/spring tunics are warm weather garments done with light-weight fabrics.

Chronology

We do not have a lot of information about 19th century tunics, especially the early-19th century before photography. Our archive is fairly limited during the first half of the 19th century. The 19th century examples we have found do not suggest seasonal specialization. At least we do not note boys wearing light-colored tunics or tunics done in light-weight fabric. But as our archive is still fairly limited and we can not yet make a valid assessment. this changes at the turn-of-the 20th century. We begin to notice far more images in the photographic record. And we have mail order catalogs. We believe that this is at least in part a reflection of prevalence. The difference is substantial enough to firmly show a well-established seasonal preference on the part of mothers. The tunics we see beginning at the turn-of-the century were primarily a summer outfit.

Prevalence

Not all are tunics, but a substantial majority of the images in our archive tend to be the summer ones. We note far more summer tunics than winter tunics in the 1900s and 10s photographic record. This also seems to be the case in period catalogs. We see far more offerings for spring-summer tunics. This includes both family snapshots and studio portraits. Studio portraits are taken inside, by light colors and light-weight material distinguish spring-summer tunics as opposed to fall-winter tunics. The Indiana boy on the previous page is clearly wearing a light-weight spring-summer tunic. The unidentified younger boy here is clearly wearing a dark, heavy-weight fabric tunic suit (figure 1).

Usage

We are not sure just at this time just why tunics would be more common for summer wear which seems to be the case. at least in the early-20th century.

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Created: 3:30 AM 11/28/2005
Last edited: 10:26 AM 2/12/2024