Figure 1.--The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-92) poet Laureate of England) and his wife Emily Sarah Sellwod with their sons Lionel and Hallam. Their two boys wear tunic suits with below the knee knickers. Notice the front buttons and lace collars. The photograph was taken in 1862. 'Pen' Browning wore a similar tunic costume.

HBC does not yet kmow where the fashion of tunics for boys originated, probably England or France. We also do not have full details on tunic styles in different countries. They appear to have been widely worn by American and European boys in the early 19th Century. The tunic suits that appeared at the 20th Century appear to have been very popular in America, France and Italy. I am less clear about the popularity in other countries. Tunics along with skeleton suits were some of the most popular boys outfits in the early 19th Century. I have no infornmation at this time on the relative popularity and stylistic differences in various countries. Tunics declined in popularity at mid-century, but they never entirely disappeared. I have no infornmation at this time on the relative popularity and stylistic differences in various countries. Tunic suits appeared at the turn of the century. They may have been worn in Europe during the late 1890s, but were most popular from about 1900 to about 1915. The style was little seen after the Firsrt World War (1914-18) in the 1920s. It appears to have been a particularly popular style in America and France, but was worn throughout Europe.

America

Tunics suits seem to have been particularly popular in America. Much of the information in the tunic section is about tunics in America. I am not sure how common they were in the early 20th century, but they are much more common at the mid-19th centuty, and even more sp at the turn-of-the20th century. They were very widely worn in America at this time. Three styles were generally worn, but there were other styles as well. The sailor style was the most popular, but the Russian blouse and Buster Brown styles were also popular. These tunic were mostly worn with above-the-knee knickers and short pants. A related style, the Russian blouse suit was occasionally worn with long pants--mostly in the long pants variant. Some information is available on individual boys. Note an Ohio boy during the 1900s. We also note a New York boy in 1904.

Australia

HBC has only begun to assess tunics in Australia. British immigration to Australia began to reach significant levels in the mid-19th century. Thus the tunics worn in England during the early 20th century had little imapct on Australia as there was not yey any substantial English population. This was different by the turn of the 20th century. We note some boys wearing tunic suits at this time. The style follows English styles. We do not know how common these suits were in Australia.

Austria

I have little information on how popular tunic suits were in Austria. I do know that they were worn with short pants by Crown Prince Otto in the years before and during World War I. Presumably this affected the popularity throughout the Empire, but I can not yet confirm this.

Belgium

Tunics were a very popular style during the 19th century. We have little information as to when they appeared, but believe it was early in the century. We are also not sure where they first appeared, but probably in England and France. We do know that by mid-century they were being widely worn, although we do not know to what extent working-class boys were wearing them. We do have setails on one 1852 tunic outfit shown in a Belgian fashion magazine. Boys styles could be quite elaborate in the mid-19th century, including both dresses and tunics. Tunics could be very plain or worn as part of quite elaborate garments. They were worn with both pantalettes and trousers. Tunics were still popular by the turn of the 20th century, but the outfits were plairer and geberally worn with knicker-length or shofrt pants. The belt was a common stylistic element with tunics. There were also different buttoning arrangements. HBC does note that the Belgian princes (Leopold and Charles) did not wear tunic suits, but rather Fauntleroy suits and fancy short pants suits.

Canada

We note Canadian boys wearing tunic suits in the early 20th century. They seem rather similar to the suits worn in America, commonly with belts. The tunic seemed less popular in Britain at the time. We notice Canadian boys wearing tunic suits done inthe sailor style. One example is a sailor tunic done with polka dot material. But this was unusual. Most were done with more of a nautical look. One image shows Canadian children dressed up, but playing in a park in 1912. The boy wears a white tunic suit. Another unidentified Canadian boy wears a white tunic at about the same time. It is done in the sailor style, but with lace rather than stripped detailing.

England

We believe that tunics were widely worn by English bous. 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. I have seen relatively few images of English boys in turn of the 20th century 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. Both the sailor style amd Russian blouse style were worn.

Figure 2.--This French boy wears a fancy velvet sailor suit with lace-trimmed sailor styling. His tunic suit has kneepants rather than knicker pants that were more common in America.

France

Tunic suits were very popular in France. Most were the sailor suit style, but unlike the generally plain American styles, French mothers like much fancier styles trimmed in lace and ruffles. They were worn with both knickers and short pants. The knickers werte usually worn above the knees. The short pants style appears to have been very popular and were often worn with thre-quarter length socks.

Germany

HBC believes that the fancy, lace trimmed French styles seen here were less popular in Germany. HBC has little information on Germany, but believe the Russian blouse style was commonly worn. There is extensive information in the royalty satellite site on the German princes, Kaiser Wilhelm's grand children all dress in identical Russian blouse suits. They were worn with short pants, usually without stockings. It seems to have been a summer outfit.

Hungary

We notice a Hungarian boy from a prosperous family wearing a tunic suit with bloomer knickers, we beklieve in the early 1870s.

Italy

I have no information on Italian tunic suits, but believe that styles were similar to those in France. Our information on Italy is still quite limited.

Poland

We do not yet have much information on Poland. Until after World War I, most of Poland was part of the RussiaN Empire with smaller areas part of the German and Austrian Empire. Thus fashionable clothing styles corresonded to styles in those empires. After the War, clothing styles seem to have been quite similar to Germany. One example is the The Chciuk family in 1921.

Scotland

We have no information at this time about Scottish tunivs in the 19th century. Younger Scottish boys at the turn of the century wore tunics as was common in England and America. The style of tunic is somewhat different than was common in America. HBC know less about tunic styles in England. We do not know how common tunics were in Scotland. The portrait seen here was undated, but was pribably taken in the early 1900s, perhaps about 1905. It was taken in Ayr. We note some differences with the tunic suits that American boys were commonly wearing at the time. We especially note the Peter Pan collar and the below the knee pants which could be bloomer knickers, but we are not sure.

Spain

We have little information on Spanish tunics at this time. There is no indication that Spain has diverged from the general European patter concerning tunics. The few images we have seen look rather like French tunics. We do have one 1916 image. Some images are difficult to interpret.

Switzerland

We do not have a lot of information on Switzerland yet. We note the younger boy in the Swiss Kessler-Trümpi family wearing a tunic outfit in 1840. We suspect that Swiss tunics were essentially the same as Germn tunics. The French minority may have been more influenced by France. We note Swiss children like many European children wearing a variety of tunic suits in the ealy 20th century.

Turmenistan

We primarily discuss tunics in connection to European and Ametrican fashions. The simplicity of the tunic, however, means that it was used by both ancient civilization as well as many more modern countries. Tunics were wotk by Turkmen boys as well as boys in other Central Asian countries.

Wales

As far as we can tell, the tunics worn by Welsh boys were essentially the same as those worn by English boys. We know of no real difference. A good example is a Cardiff boy with a pin-on lace collar added to his tunic.