Belgian Boys Clothes: Garments--Tunics


Figure 1.--.

Tunics were a very popular style during the 19th century. We have little information as to when they appeared, but believe it was early in the century. We are also not sure where they first appeared, but probably in England and France. We do know that by mid-century they were being widely worn, although we do not know to what extent working-class boys were wearing them. We do have setails on one 1852 tunic outfit shown in a Belgian fashion magazine. Boys styles could be quite elaborate in the mid-19th century, including both dresses and tunics. Tunics could be very plain or worn as part of quite elaborate garments. They were worn with both pantalettes and trousers. The belt was a common stylistic element with tunics. There were also different buttoning arrangements.Tunics were still popular by the turn of the 20th century, but the outfits were plainer and generally worn with knicker-length or short pants. HBC does note that the Belgian princes (Leopold and Charles) did not wear tunic suits, but rather Fauntleroy suits and fancy short pants suits.

Chronology

Tunics were a very popular style during the 19th century. We have little information as to when they appeared, but believe it was early in the century. Fashion magazines show boys by the mid-19th century wearing a wide variety of tunic outfits from plain to very elablorate outfits. They were worn with both pantalettes and long trousers. By the late 19th century, tunic outfits were much plainer and often worn with knickers or kneepants. Short pants appaered after the turn of the century. Tunics were worn in the 1900s, but generally declined in popularity in the 1910s, especially after World War I.
1852 plain tunic outfit: A 1852 Belgian fashion magazine showed an outfit for a boy of 5 years. He wears a plain unbelted tunic with plain accessories like plain pantaletes.
1852 fancy tunic outfit: Another illustration from a Belgian fashion magazine sgows an older boys of 9 years old wearing a belted tunic with much fancier accessories such as lacy pantalettes. HBC would have guessed that this fancier tunic was for a younger boy than the other 1852 tunic--especially as the outfit includes lacy panteletes. The 1852 magazine in which it appeared, however, clearly indicates that it was for an older boy.
1857 Tunic suit: We note a portrait of an unidentified brother and sister taken about 1857. He wears a brown tunic suit. She wears a grey dress. Both wear white long stockings.

Origins

We are also not sure where they first appeared, but probably in England and France.

Popularity

We do know that by mid-century they were being widely worn, although we do not know to what extent working-class boys were wearing them. We do have details on one 1852 tunic outfit shown in a Belgian fashion magazine. These images suggest that tunics were common for boys from affluent families, we do not know if they were also popular for boys from more humble circumstances.

Age

HBC at this time does not havea good feel for the age of the Belgian boys wearing tunics. Very young boys wore dresses. Tunics were ofren used as a transition garment for boys after breeching. Younger boys wore their tunics with pantalettes while older boys wire trousers. Long pants were worn at the mid-19th century, but gradually knickers and short pants became miore common. Generally most boys moved to more traditional suit styles at least by the time they were 8 years old. It was not unknownm however, for somewhat older boys to swear them. Some of the fashion mahazines mentioned boys as old as 9 years.

Styles

Boys styles could be quite elaborate in the mid-19th century, including both dresses and tunics. Tunics could be very plain or worn as part of quite elaborate garments.

Stylistic Elements

The belt was a common stylistic element with tunics. There were also different buttoning arrangements.

Accompanying Clothes

Boys generally wore headgear with tunics, but no one style is strongly associated with them. Tunics were worn with a variery of bloyses. They were also worn with both pantalettes and trousers.

Headgear

Boys appear to have worn tunics with quite a range of different haps and caps. A mid-19th century there does not appear to have been any standard style. By the end of the century headgear was more standarfdized with cailor caps and hats increaassingly popular.

Pants

Tunics were worn with both pantalettes and f trousers. Tunics were still popular by the turn of the 20th century, but the outfits were plainer and generally worn with knicker-length or short pants.

Belt

The belt was a common stylistic element with tunics. The belt served no practical purpose that I know of, it was purely stlistic. Some boys did not wear belts with their tunics. Others boys one or even two belts.

Hosiery


Royalty

Royal fashions were also influential in natial clothing trends. HBC does note that the Belgian princes (Leopold and Charles) in the early 20th century did not wear tunic suits, but rather Fauntleroy suits and fancy short pants suits. HBC has develped consider detail about Belgian royalty.

Dresses

Younger boys were more lkikely to wear dresses than tunics. With dresses they would usually wear pantalets. Tunics were often used as a bridge garment for mothers that thought their sons were too old for dresses but not yet quite ready to wear trousers.







HBC






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Created: August 10, 2001
Last updated: 8:04 AM 1/4/2018