Figure 1.--This is a an example of the fancy suit styles worn in the late 1870s or early 1880s. Te diagobal secortion is specially assiciated wih the 1870s. HBC has no idea at this time as to what to call it.

Boys at the mid-19th century wore a variety of fancuy suit styles. Many of these syles wereinspired by different historical or literary models. The adoption of these historical/literary styles seems part of the process begun by the skeleton suit in differentiating men and boys' clothing. They were mostly worn by younger boys. Today the suit styles worn by boys are fairly standard. Many fancy styles appeared at mid-century and HBC has little idea as to what they were called. In many cases they may have been the inspiration of single seamstresses or mothers and were not worn in large quantities. The fanciest style was of course the famed Fautleroy suit, but many other fanncy styles were worn in the 1850s-80s. By the 1890s the styles of boys suits had become more standardized.

Chronology

Boys at the mid-19th century wore a variety of fancuy suit styles. I believe these fancy suit styles first appeared in the 1850s, but this is primarily basded on available photographic images. Some of these suits may have appeared in the 1840s. They were widely worn in the 1860s aand 70s, but began to declinr in the 1880s as fasionably inclined mothers more commonly chose Fauntleroy suits by the mid-1880s. By the 1890s the styles of boys suits had become more standardized, and fancy styled suits beccame much less common. Many of these suits in the 1850s and 60s had very small jackets which might be worn with only one button to close near the collar. This began to change in the 1870s when styles with larger jackets became more common by the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Nomenclature

Today the suit styles worn by boys are fairly standard. Many fancy styles appeared at mid-century and HBC has little idea as to what they were called. Some information on nomenclature may eventually come from 19th century fashiion magazines or store catalogs.

Production

In many cases they may have been the inspiration of single seamstresses or mothers and were not worn in large quantities. Thus these suits may have been made individually, meaning there are no names for many of these individual suits.

Styles

Many of the fancy suit syles were inspired by military uniforms and other historical models. These fancy suit included Hussar, sailor, and Zouave styles. The British royal family snd Scottish authors helped stimulate interest in Scotland leading to both Higland outfits and the more restrined kilt suits. Many other fanncy styles were worn in the 1850s-80s. Literary inspiration popularized the fanciest style was of course the famed Fautleroy suit, in inspired by Mrs. Burnetts book, Little Lord Fauntleroy. The adoption of these historical/literary styles seems part of the process begun by the skeleton suit in differentiating men and boys' clothing. They were mostly worn by younger boys.

Pants

Most of these fancy suit styles were worn with knee pants. These styles appeared at about the same time as kneepants which were initially most common for younger boys. As these suits were for younger boys, they were usually worn with knee pants.