French boys as other European boys also common wore various styles of caps. Sailor styles were especially popular in France. French boys wore sailor suits more commonly than perhaps any other country. And commonly with sailor-styled caps. There were different sailor styes which the French like to add a pom, often a red pom. Sailor caps were also worn without sailor suits. Sailor suits and head wear was worn through the 1930s, but generally disapperared after World War II (1939-45). Older boys might wear flat caps, but this was more commion as an adult style. We also see a few boys wearing British-styled school caps. It was, however not a school style in France and not nearly as common. We see some military-styled caps, but mostly for school wear as some secondary schools adopted military styled uniforms. In fact, the various forms of peaked caps were not very common in even the flat cap, at least for boys. In the late-20th century, America-styled baseball caps made their appearance. We see some stocking caps for cold-weather wear. Some are fancier than hose worn in America and other countries. The appearance of some are rather like the Phrygian caps which was originally used by several Iranian peoples, including the Scythians, the Medes, and the Persians. Phrygian caps became associated with liberty because they were worn by emancipated Roman slaves. That sence was lost after the fall of Rome, but was revived again with the American Revolution where they became known as 'liberty caps'. Roman precedents were important to the Revolution. And the American Constitution thanks to Madison has a very pronounced Roman imprint. Liberty caps became even more importat with the the French Revolution. And after the Revolution they became associated with Jacobinism becoming known as Jacobian caps. This is complicated because they were also part of traditionsl regional styles. It is difficult to underrstand the intention of parents if any.
In the late-20th century, America-styled baseball caps made their appearance. This was the same pattern we see in many European countries. A turning point was when British coal miners began wearing baseball camps (1970s).
Older boys might wear flat caps, one of the many styles of oeaked caps. Americans often refer to the flat cap as news boy or gilf caps. Quite different groups. Flat caps were more commion as an adult style. It became the styandard cap for boys for over two decades (1910-35). We see them in France, but the various forms of peaked caps were not very common in France, including the flat cap, at least for boys.
We see some military-styled caps, but mostly for school wear as some secondary schools adopted military styled uniforms. An 1860s example of a boy wearing a military kepi style is in the previous page. can
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We also see a few boys wearing British-styled peaked caps, commonly referred to as school caps. It was, however, not a school style in France and not nearly as common. This was a very popular style of boys caps in America and Britain, but we do not see very many in France. Many of the French examples come from the 1950s and 60s. It seens to have benn a dressy style. Thev boyb hereis a good example (figure 1). There are differences in these caps. Notice the cap here has a larger crown than the Amerucan and British peaked caps. There was one exception to thecprevalenjce of this style. We see it being used as as a Cub Scout uniform style, a carry over from the British Cubs. French Scouting was dufferent from British Scouting. There were several different Scoutingassiciagtiions. Some French Cubs wore berets.
Sailor styles were especially popular in France. French boys wore sailor suits more commonly than perhaps any other country. And French boys commonly wore their sailoir suits with sailor caps. It was one of the most populasr styles, if not the most popular cap style for boys. There were different sailor styles to which the French liked to add a pom, often a red pom. Sailor caps were not only worn with sailor suits. Sailor suits and head wear were worn into the the 1940s, but generally disapperared after World War II (1939-45). Sailorvsuits along with the caps were popular for First Communion outfits. Somewhast older boys wore sailor suits and caps in France than many other countries, especially America and Britain. Styles changed over time, largely dependent on the uniform styles of the French Navy. Sailorvstyles were largel set by the British Royal Navy. yhis is why there arecso many similarities among naval uniforms and boys sailor suits around the world. Along with thec similarities, there were differences among the various national navies.
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We see some stocking caps for cold-weather wear. Some are fancier than hose worn in America and other countries. The appearance of some are rather like the Phrygian caps which was originally used by several Iranian peoples, including the Scythians, the Medes, and the Persians. Phrygian caps became associated with liberty because they were worn by emancipated Roman slaves. That sence was lost after the fall of Rome, but was revived again with the American Revolution where they became known as 'liberty caps'. Roman precedents were important to the Revolution. And the American Constitution thanks to Madison has a very pronounced Roman imprint. Liberty caps became even more importat with the the French Revolution. And after the Revolution they became associated with Jacobinism becoming known as Jacobian caps. This is complicated because they were also part of traditionsl regional styles. It is difficult to understand the intention of parents if any.
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