Figure 1.--At the mid-19th century, many boys had their portrait taken without suit jackets, meaning thst they did not have one. At the turn-of-the 20th century boys rarely had their portaits taken without suit jackes, except for younger boys during the summer. This undated American cabinet card shows five brothers, including twins, wearing popular suit styles about 1900, peovably 1900-05. The Fauntleroy Craze was in its last phase at the time. The two older boys wear lapel jacket suits. The younger boys wear knee pants. he older boy who looks to be about 14 years old wear long pants. At the time many even older teenagers wore knee pants. This varied from family to family. The studio information is imprinted on the mount card stock, but we can't read it.

There are principally three countries in North America: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Here we are discussing Canada and the United States. Mexico is in North America, but culturally and economically has more in common with Latin America and thgere fore we have included Mexico in our Latin Amrican secrion. We have no information on Canadian suits until the 19th century, HBC has some limited information on Canadian boys' suits in the 19th and 20th centuries. Canadian boys wore English style suits in the 19th century. I'm not sure to what extent French-style suits were worn. Well to do boys, especially from English families, might wear Eton suits and collars. After World War I, American-styled suits have become more common. HBC has noted Norfolk suits in the early 20th century. By the 1930s modern looking single breasted and double breasted suits. I'm not sure how common kneepants suits were in the late 19th century, but Canadian boys do seem to have commonly worn knicker suits through the 1930s. Despite the climate, short pants suits appear to have been more common than in America. The first suits specifically made for boys in America as in Europe were skeleton suits. We notice suits with short jackets and often contrasting pants in the 1840s. At this time younger boys began wearing fancy suits, often heavily embroidered cut-away jackets with bloomer knickers or knee pants. Modern looking sack suits began to be worn in the 1860s. Younger boys in fashionable families might wear kneepants suits, but long trousers were more common for older boys until the 1890s when older boys began wearing them as well. Younger boys by the 1870s commonly wore kiltsuits by the 1870s and Fauntleroy suits by the 1880s. Sailor suits were another popular choice. Older boys wore more modern suis. Many destinctive styles appeared such as Norfolk suits. There were also single- and double-breasted suits. After the turn of the 20th century, knickers began replacing knee pants, especially after the 1910s. After World War I, short pants suits appeared, but knicker suits were much more common. Afrer World War II long pants suits became increasingly common. Boys also wore sports jackets and blazers. The increasingly popular more casual life style meant boys were wearing suits less and less commonly.

Canada

We have begun to acquire some basic information about Canadian suits. We have no information on Canadian suits until the 19th century, HBC has some limited information on Canadian boys' suits in the 19th and 20th centuries. Canadian boys wore English style suits in the 19th century. I'm not sure to what extent French-style suits were worn. ultual contacts with France was limited. The growing American economy and cultural influence had began to exert its influence by the late-19th century. This gradually exerted a cultural pull that exceed the historic ties with Britain. Here social class was a factor wth rhe well-to-do more affected by British fashions than the average family. Trends were not identical to America, at least until after World War I. Fauntleroy suits, for example, were never as popular in Canada as in America. Well to do boys, especially from English families, might wear Eton suits and collars. After World War I, American-styled suits have become more common. HBC has noted Norfolk suits in the early 20th century. By the 1930s modern-looking single-breasted and double-breasted suits. We are not sure how common knee pants suits were in the late-19th century, but Canadian boys do seem to have commonly worn knicker suits as in America through the 1930s. Despite the climate, short pants suits appear to have been more common than in America. This seems to show a continuing British influence.

United States

We have compiled extensive information on the suits worn by American boys. Here the invention of photography has provided a wealth of information. Boys if the famiky could afford them wore suits in the 18th century, but not specifically styled children's styles. They wore after breeching, scaled-down versions of their fathers' suits. The first suits specifically made for boys in America as in Europe were skeleton suits. This is the obly style of boy's suit for which informatio is limited, primarily bcause it appeared before photography. We notice suits with short jackets and often contrasting pants in the 1840s. Many boys wore blouses or tunic like tops rathers than suits in the 40s. We believe this was an economic matter. It was not until the American industrial economy began to boom that suits became standard (1860s). At this time younger boys began wearing fancy suits, often heavily embroidered cut-away jackets with bloomer knickers or knee pants. Collar-buttoning jackets were popular at mid-century and we continue seeing them throughout the rest of the century. Modern looking sack suits with lapels began to be worn in the 1860s. Younger boys in fashionable families might wear knee pants suits, but long trousers were more common for older boys until the 1890s when older boys began wearing them as well. Younger boys by the 1870s commonly wore kilt suits by the 1870s and Fauntleroy suits by the 1880s. Sailor suits were another popular choice. Older boys wore more modern suis. Many destinctive styles appeared such as Norfolk suits. There were also single and double-breasted suits. After the turn-of-the 20th century, knickers began replacing knee pants, especially after the 1910s. After World War I, short pants suits appeared, but knicker suits were much more common. This wasa major divergence from Europe. Afrer World War II long pants suits became increasingly common even for younger boys. Boys also wore sports jackets and blazers. The increasingly popular more casual life style meant boys were wearing suits less and less commonly, especially after the 1960s. Vests became an alternative for younger boys.