Figure 1.--The girls seem dressed similarly to American girls, although the younger girl's sailor dress has the detailing of a U.S. Navy sailor. The boy wears above-the-knee knickers. Knickers at the time were standard boys' wear in America, mostly worn with long stockings, although knee socks were beginning to become popular. Uruguay was more influenced by Europe than America. Short pants were more common than knickers. Jacobo Jr. wears his above the knee knickers with knee socks. We see some American boys outfitted like this, but not very many. Jacobo probanly would have worn short pants at home in Uruguay.

We note the Varela family in 1922. The family was Uruguayan, but living in the United States. The father was a diplomat posted to Washington, D.C. There were three children about 8-15 years old, Odele, Jacobo Jr., and Mireya. The girls seem dressed similarly to American girls, although the younger girl's sailor dress has the detailing of a U.S. Navy sailor. The boy wears above-the-knee knickers. Knickers at the time were standard boys' wear in America, mostly worn with long stockings, although knee socks were beginning to become popular. Uruguay was more influenced by Europe than America. Short pants were more common than knickers. Jacobo Jr. wears his above the knee knickers with knee socks. We see some American boys outfitted like this, but not very many. Jacobo probanly would have worn short pants at home in Uruguay.

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Created: 5:47 AM 6/16/2026
Last edited: 5:47 AM 6/16/2026