Figure 1.--This French post card was made in the early 1910s and shows one of many sttyles of Fauntleroy suits worn by boys. For a discussion of this style, click on the image. The hard to read greeting in the upper left hand corner reads "Anniversaire", this means birthday rather than "anniversery" in the American sence. Thus this is a card that would have been sent to a young boy on his birthday.

Appearing after the classic small-jacket style, Fauntleloy suits appeared that buttoned to the neck or had no front buttons at all. This style appedared in the mid-1890s and was common in the early 1900s and 1910s before World War I (1914-18). These suits were usually worn with pinned on collar and wrist lace and ruffle trim. Sometines so much of this trim was pinned on that it was not possible to see much of the jacket underneath. Like the classic outfits, the pants could be either kneepants or above the knee bloomer knickers. Most examples we have seen have the bloomer knickers. A sash might be added for formal occassions. Hosiery varied, but strap shoes were common.

1912 Suit

The boy show here wears a full jacket buttoned at the collar. It is covered with very extensive lace trim at the collar and cuffs. The trim is is a white collar and cuff with very elaborate lace edging. The trim appears to have beem pinned on the jacket which looks to be velvet. Because the trim is so elaborate, it is not possible to make out any details of the jacket. The pants look to be above-the-knee bloomer knickers. The outfit has a rather formal looking sash. The colors are painted in. I'm not sure how accirate they were, except that the jacket and pants had to be a light color so that these colors could be painted in. The boy, who looks to be about 7 years old, is wearing white three-quater length socks. The blue line at the top of the socks is painted in by the post card painter and probably was not actually on the socks. His rather modern looking shoes are decorated with with bows. HBC is unsure to what extent actual boys wearing these suits would really have bows on their shoes on the 1910s, although we have noted these bows in the late 1890s. The boy's hair is parted on the left and combed over even though it is curly or maybe because it is curly. It has a rather modern look to it.

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Created: November 19, 2001
Last updated: November 19, 2001