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English Boys Suits: Norfolk Jackets--Chronology

Norfolk suits
Figure 1.--This unidentified English boy English boy wears a classic Norfolk suit with a gleaming white Eton detachable collar. He looks to be about 10 years old. Notice that the jascket itself has no collar. The portrait is not dated, but looks to us was taken in the 1900s decade. It could be the late-1890s, but we think the 1900s is more likely. Here the white furniture is a indicator. For some reason we see a lot of white furniture in the 1900s decade. The studio was C.G. Hardy in Torqyay, a Channel beach resort which was becioming more popular after the turn-of-the 20th century.

Norfolk jacket suits were a popuar English stle in the late-19th and early-20th century. The Norfolk suit was initially an adult style for country wear, but became a popular style for boys. We have less access to English clothing catalogs than in America, but we note many avialable British photographs showing boys commonly wearing Norfolk jackets. HBC has noted it being commonly worn in Britain during the late-19th century. We begin to see the horizontal belts in the 1880s. The CDV on the previous pager is undated, but looks like it was taken in the 1870s or early-80s. Early images show vertical pleats. We also see many boys wearing Norfolk suits during the early-20th century. We note the Schiele boys in the early-20th century weaing collar buttoning and lapel jacket Norfolk suits. They all have Eton collars and neckwear. The boys were Argentines, but living in England. Another good example is Crespal Gordon Stoddart who was vacationing in Southport about 1900. And we note the Rainard boy with his mother and siblings wearing a Norfolk suit and matching cap with in 1912. He has an Eton collar worn without any neckwear. We have found quite a few images from the 1910s. It is difficult to say if this was because that Norfolk suits were so popular in the 1910s or reflects our larger archive of 20th century images. The portrait here was taken February 1912 (figure 1). The studio was Heyworth's in St. Annes-on sea. Lytham St Annes is a seaside town in Lancashire south of of the much better known Blackpool. The boys are likely prtmanent residents, we don't imagine the tourist trade was all that heavy in February.

The 19th Century

Norfolk jacket suits were a popular English style appearing in the late-19th century. The Norfolk suit was initially an adult style for country wear, but became a popular styles for boys. We have less access to English clothing catalogs than in America, but we note many avialable British photographs showing boys commonly wearing Norfolk jackets. It was an option for the Fauntleroyy, suit, generally worn bynboys a little older than wearing Fauntleroy suits. The age levels, however, overlapped with the Fautleroy suit. And it was generally less common to add Fauntleroy touches to these suits. Eton collars were very common with these suits. HBC has noted Norfolk jackets being commonly worn in Britain during the late-19th century. The CDV on the previous pager is undated, but looks like it was taken in the 1870s or early-80s. Early images show vertical pleats. We notice a fabric belt being added (1880s) and for a time we see Norfolk jackets both with and without the belt.

The 20th Century

We also see many boys wearing Norfolk suits during the early-20th century. This appaers to have bee thebpeak of popuklaritybforbvthese styles. We note the Schiele boys in the early-20th century weaing collar buttoning and lapel jacket Norfolk suits. They all have Eton collars and neckwear. The boys were Argentines, but living in England. Another good example is Crespal Gordon Stoddart who was vacationing in Southport about 1900. And we note the Rainard boy with his mother and siblings wearing a Norfolk suit and matching cap with in 1912. He has an Eton collar worn without any neckwear. We have found quite a few images from the 1910s. It is difficult to say if this was because that Norfolk suits were so popular in the 1910s or reflects our larger archive of 20th century images. The portrait here was taken February 1912 (figure 1). The studio was Heyworth's in St. Annes-on sea. Lytham St Annes is a seaside town in Lancashire south of of the much better known Blackpool. The boys are likely prtmanent residents, we don't imagine the tourist trade was all that heavy in February. After World War I in the 1920s, Norfolk suits rapidly went out of style.






HBC





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Created: 12:09 AM 11/3/2014
Last updated: 12:25 AM 1/2/2023