Figure 1.--These two boys, presumably brothers, had their portrait taken during 1907-09. The portrait with a postcard back is not dated, but the four diamond AZO stamp box helps us date the image. Note that the younger boys about 5-6 years old wears a sailor tiunic while his older brother about 9 years old wears a sailor suit. Note the beach-theme background used in the studio. We suspect that the portrait was taken at a beach resort. Both boys wear black long stockings, but the younger boy is wearing sandals. A reader writes, "This is a lovely picture. Its got such a friendly feel to it. The boys look very relaxed. They seem to be happy having their picture taken."

We note sailor tunics in America made in sizes from about 2 1/2 to 8 years of age in available catalogs. This varied over time and from catalog to catalog. This range is confirmed by the photographic records, although they seem most popular for pre-school boys about 3-5 years of age. The age range for sailor tunics was a little wider than for tunics suits in general. Sailor tunics were often made in larger sizes than the other tunic styles. The older boys who wore tunics normally the sailor styles. We have seen sailor tunics made in sizes up to age 8 years in catlogs. We note mothers often dressing boys in matching sailor tunics. If the older boy was over 7-8 years old, mothers might buy an ordinary sailor suit for the older boy. She might or might not attempt to coordinate the color or styling.

2 Year Olds

We notemany sailor tunics in America made in sizes bginning in sizes for boys about 2 1/2 years old. We are not entirely sure why so many specify 2 1/2 rther than 2 years old, but we see that in a number of catalogs.

3 Year Olds

The age at which tunics were worn has varied over time and from catalog to catalog. This range is confirmed by the photographic records, although they seem most popular for pre-school boys about 3-5 years of age. Beginning about age 3 years we see quite a number of boys wearing variously styled sailor tunics. It was a very popular style for 3 year olds, especially in the early-20th century. Earlier boys this age may have worn other types of skirted garments, but after the turn-of-the-century, the tunic was the only important skirted garment boys were still commonly wearing.

4 Year Olds

5 Year Olds

6 Year Olds

The boy wearing a sailor tunic here looks to be about 5-6 years old (figure 1). His older brother who may be about 9 years old weas a standard sailor suit. This provides some of the age parameters for sailor tunics. Age 6 years is the age that children began school. We thus see fewer boys earing tunics at this age. Most boys did not wear tunics to school, but outfits with pants. This may gave not been true in the early019th century, but as photograohy wa not yet invented, we do not have a good fix on the school clothing trends.

7 Year Olds

The age range for sailor tunics was a little wider than for tunics suits in general. Sailor tunics were often made in larger sizes than the other tunic styles. The older boys who wore tunics normally had the sailor styles. Much of the photographic record does not indicate the ages of the boys so have to estimate the ages. While this lacks prrcision, we can not be significantly off. Here we have an aid in that we have school photgraohy. We do not see many boys wearing these tunics to school and only the younger boys. So 7 -year olds were near the oldest age for these outfits. There may have been a few 8 years olds, but not very many. Family images can also help identify the ages of the the children. We have found some of the boys in these family images wearing identical tunics. The image here is a good example. This helps set parameters when the ages of the boys in the portaits are not specified. Sailor tunics were done in many different styles. The ones here do not have any detailing.

8 Years Old

The oldest suze we see for sailor tunics is age 8 years old. Actually this age was only for silor styled tunics. We have seen sailor tunics made in sizes up to age 8 years in catlogs. We note mothers often dressing boys in matching sailor tunics. If the older boy was over 7-8 years old, mothers might buy an ordinary sailor suit for the older boy. She might or might not attempt to coordinate the color or styling. Other tunic styles generally stop at age 6 years or less. We are less sure about the early-19th century before the invention of photography, older boys mat have worn tunics at that time and sailor tunics only appered in the late-19th century. .

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Created: 7:54 PM 6/24/2008
Last edited: 3:17 AM 5/4/2023