|
English children have worn a variety of cold weather garments. The most important is coats and jackets. And English coat styles have cbeen very important vin infuencing styles. We notice caps in the 19th century. A good example is the caps the Cameron boys are wearing in the 1850s. knitted garments, especially during the winter. The most important was of course the sweaters. Many important sweater types first appeared in England. Some English boys during the 1920s began wearing sweaters, which tended to to be made longer than now, over their pants--usuallly short pants. There were even knitted pants for younger people. This fashion was, however, not as pronounced as on the Continent. We have observed this same convention in other countries--including Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We do not know why this convention developed. Later the swearters becam more shorter and were cut at the waist and often tucked inside the pants. The sweater was an important school garment. We also note important coat styles, especially sailor styles such as such as sailor styles, including reefer jackets, pea jackets as well as duffle coats. One cold weather garment that does not seem very common are leggings. Other garments include gloves, mufflers, and scarves. An especially destinctive cold weather garment is the balaclava.
We notice caps in the 19th century. A good example is the caps the Cameron boys are wearing in the 1850s. Hats are less common for winter as the brims can catch the wind. An especially destinctive cold weather garment is the balaclava.
The most cold weather garments are coats and and jackets. And English coat styles have cbeen very important in infuencing styles. We also note important coat styles, especially sailor styles such as such as sailor styles, including reefer jackets, pea jackets as well as duffle coats.
We notice a lot of English boys wearing knitted outfits. The images we have noted date from the early-20th century. We have little information yet on the 19th century. We see a variety of knitted garments, especially during the winter. The most common garment as in most countries were sweaters. The variable weather makes the sweater a bery useful garment. ortant was of course the sweater, commonly called jerseys in England. Sweaters were especially important in England. Many important sweater types first appeared in England. Some English boys during the 1920s began wearing sweaters, which tended to to be made longer than now, over their pants--usuallly short pants. There were even knitted pants for younger people. They were often done as matching items for knitted tops. This fashion was, however, not as pronounced as on the Continent. We have observed this same convention in other countries--including Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. We do not know why this convention developed. Later the sweaters became shorter and were cut at the waist and even tucked inside the pants. The sweater was an important school garment, often dome in grey. Sweaters were usually solid colors until after World War II. We see younger boys wearing matching knit outfits, tops and pants. These were often short pants outfits, but they were also done with long pants. England is at a verty northerly lattitude, but because of the Gulf Stream has a rather mild clinmate. Thus the warm weather needs are not as stringentg as Germany and the Scandinavian countries. We do not at this time, however, have details on the knitting industry in England. We note some very well made knits by the 1910s which look to us like they were not made by hand. Some had surprisingly modern styling.
We do not think that leggings were very common in England, but in fact we have very little information. England's relarively moderate climate may be a factor here. Some wealthy children may have worn them in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but we think they were not commonly worn. We note Little Lord Fauntleroy illustratins with leggings, but this may reflect American rathr than English fashions. We also note nostalgic English Christmas cards with leggings, so they may have been worn to some extent in the 19th century. A British reader writes, "I remember wearing leggings. It must have been when I was three. I never went to school with them and I started in 1934, just before I was four, so it would have been during the winter 1933-34. The reason I remember was because I wouldn't stand still while mother did up all the buttons, so I got my leg slapped. They were a sort of milk choclate brown felty sort of material. The number of buttons to fasten must have put a lot of mothers off buying them for their children. I remember seeing my little sister wearing them too." Another reader, Barbara, tells us how she wore leggings in the 1940s. They were out of style by that time, but her mother insisted that she wear them. She didn't like them at all.
Hosiery was another imprtant cold weather garmert. In many countries this meant long stockings. after the turn-of-the 20th centyury we no longer see children commonly wearing long stockinfs, especially boys. Knee sicjs became much more common.
Other garments include gloves, mufflers, and scarves.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main English enclement weather page]
[Return to the Main English garment page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Photography]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
