Figure 1.--This London boy wears a classic sailor suit with a middy blouse. Note that it is a button-up b;ouse. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1890s. |
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The two basic sailor suit garments were the middy blouse and trousers. No garment more epitomized the sailor style than the classic "V"-front middy blouse. Middy blouses were primarily pull-over garments, but we also note button-up topss. This included both blouses and garments that look more like jackets than blouses. Of course the classic middy blouse is a pull-over garment with a "V"-front collar and back flap. Traditionally middy blouses were detailed with stripes, but this was not always the case. They were based on the Royal Navy uniforms. Some diverged from the traditional uniform suit, but the great bulk of these blouses were based on Royal Navy styles or were stronly influenced by it. We note other collars as well, bit they were not nearly as common as the traditional uniform styles. Some middy blouses had pointed collars. We also notice middy blouses without collars, but a a square neck opening. This was a more casual, summer style. Middy blouses were mostly done in blue and white, but there were other colors. Middy blouses were worn by both boys and girls.
The two basic sailor suit garments were the middy blouse and trousers. No garment more epitomized the sailor style than the classic "V"-front middy blouse.
Middy blouses were primarily pull-over garments, but we also note button-up tops. This included both blouses and garments that look more like jackets than blouses. The button-up blouses were not based on Royal Navy uniforms, but many were styled just like pull-over blouses. A good example of a button-up blouse is Harry Shaw. We also see these button-up blouses dine more like jackets in a heavier material.
We have noticed three basic styles of middy blouses. The classic middy blouse is a pull-over garment with a "V"-front collar and back flap. This is the garment most associated with sailor styling. Traditionally middy blouses were detailed with stripes, but this was not always the case. They were based on the Royal Navy uniforms. Some diverged from the traditional uniform suit, but the great bulk of these blouses were based on Royal Navy styles or were stronly influenced by it. We note other collars as well, bit they were not nearly as common as the traditional uniform styles. Some middy blouses had pointed collars. This seem to have been a style brifly worn in the lvery late-19th century. We also notice middy blouses without collars, but a square neck opening. This was a more casual, summer style. We see quite a few boys wearing these blouses in the early 20th century.
Middy blouses were mostly done in blue and white, but there were other colors.
Middy blouses were worn by both boys and girls.
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