Figure 1.--

Belgian Pantalettes

HBC has very few sources of information on Belgian pantalettes. We begin to note then in the early 19th century. We believe that they were widely worn by younger Belgian boys in the early 19th century. Boys wore pantalettes with both dresses and tunics. They ranged from the very plain to quite elaborate. Lengths changed iover time in line with dress hems and conventions of modesty. It was considered proper in the early 19th century to cover the legs of even very young children. There appears to have been a social class factor involved with boys from wealthy families more likely to wear them. The fashions involved appear to have been primarily French styles. Our information at this time is primarily based on available images from Belgian fashion magazines

Chronology

We begin to note pantalettes in the early 19th century.

Popularity

We believe that they were widely worn by younger Belgian boys in the early 19th century. There appears to have been a social class factor involved with boys from wealthy families more likely to wear them.

Clothing

Boys wore pantalettes with both dresses and tunics. They were also worn with a variety of suits such as skeleton suits at the beginning of the 19th century and Fauntleroy-like suits later in the century. We have noted several such images in Belgian fashion magazines.

Plain pantalettes

A Belgian fashion magazine in 1852 showed a boy wearing a plain tunic with either plain patalettes or white trousers. Boys in fact wore tunics with both pantalettes and pants, age being the primary factor determining which were worn.

Styles

They ranged from the very plain to quite elaborate. Lengths changed iover time in line with dress hems and conventions of modesty.

Conventions

It was considered proper in the early 19th century to cover the legs of even very young children.

Influences

The fashions involved appear to have been primarily French styles.

Sources

HBC has very few sources of information on Belgian pantalettes. Our information is still limited, but we have noted images from Belgian fashion magazines.





Christopher Wagner





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Created: August 10, 2001
Last updated: August 10, 2001