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We note Brazilian boys wearing a wide range of clothing. There have been enormous changes over time. Both economics and climate have been major drivers of children's clothing. Brazil was one of the last non-Moslem countries to end slavery (1870s). This meant that throughout the 19th century, larger numbers of black children were dressed very poorly. The country had a small Portuguese and criollo elite. They could afford to dress very well. The wore European styles. Poruhguese styles were a major influence. Often the oufits were otentirly suitable forthe Brazilian climate, although Portugal located in southern Europe had clothing more in une withBrazil than most of the rest of Europe. Most Brazilian children wore very basoc clothing, in mny cases tattered clothing. This did not begin to change until World War II and extensive American involvementboth during and after the War. It is at this time that Brazil begins to develop a modern economy. This has affected the differences between popukatin groups. We begin to see all classes Brazilian boys wearing casual Americam styles. The Equator cuts across Brazil. In the north as a result there is a tropical cimate, but even in the south there is a semi-tropical climate. Thus Brazikian children have tended to wear light-weight what Americas and Europeans might call simmer clothing. We note that the upper and middle classess were dressed similarly to comparable families in Portugal. They wear the same garments and styles. We note fancy styles like Fauntleroy suits and sailor suits at the turn of the 20th century. Many boys wore knee pants suits. We have less information on how the working class and rural poor dressed. After World War II, casual styles as in other countries becoming increasingly important. A reader tells us, "I frequently visited the southern region of Brazil during the 1980s. It was very common to see in the wealthy suburbs, well dressed and clean children (mainly boys) playing barefoot without shoes. Unlike Australia and New Zealand, bare feet were not part of the school protocol. But after schools hours, going barefoot seemed the way of life."
Children in the United States and Europe commonly wote suits in second hlf of the 19th and early-20th cenyury. Part of the reasom was climate. Suits were warm garnents as they inckuded a jacket or ciat. This was not very necessary in Brazil with uts warm climate. Still boys fom affluent families often wore European style suits. The boys here are a good example (figure 1). Notice that despite living in Brazil with its warm climate that the boys wearing three-piece suits with vests. Thus we see Brazilian boys in the 19th century wearing all the major European styles including many not meant for tropical climates. Europeans set the fashion trends in Brzil, at least among families affluent enough to follow European trends. And among these we of course find the boys' classic -- sailor suit. The sailor suit was perhaps the most popular boys' style in history. It was of course most popular in Europe and America, but we see many examples of boys from well-to-do families throughout Latin America wearing sailor suits as well, including Brazil. Here the photogrphic record is more limited, but we have noted quite a number of examples. In all instances, the boys seem to be wearing sailor outfits following European fashion trends. After the early-20th century we see far fewer boys wearing suits in Brazil, even among families which could afford them. The trend toward casual clothing observable in other countries as well as the impact of climate increasingly began to affect popular fashions.
We do not yet have much information on the pants worn by Brazilian boys. for such a large country, our archive is extremely limited. We have almost no information in the 19th century yet. Middle- and upper-class boys generally wore European-styled pants. Brazil was a Portuguese colony. We are not sure, however, just how important Portugal was in influencing Brazilian fashions. Here the boys about wears suits with knee pants as was common in Europe (figure 1). Knee pants seem very common. Knickers were not widely worn. American boys at the time were wearing knickers. After World War II, American styles began to become important. Many lower-class boys until the mid-20th century wore what might be called white campesino clothes with pants often cut off some where between the calf and ankle. We note one image of a boy wearing what looks like a romper outfit. We do not see very many romper outfits, but we do see some.
Most Brazilian boys in the 19th century went barefoot. The more prosperous wire sgoes nd socks, akthough lobg stockings were rare except for especilly formal occassions. As the Brazilan ecomomy beo. A reader tells us, "I frequently visited the southern region of Brazil during the 1980s. It was very common to see in the wealthy suburbs, well dressed and clean children (mainly boys) playing barefoot without shoes. Unlike Australia and New Zealand, bare feet were not part of the school protocol. But after schools hours, going barefoot seemed the way of life."
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1890s]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Smocks]
[Long pants suits]
[Knicker suits]
[Short pants suits]
[Socks]
[Eton suits]
[Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer]
[School sandals]
[School smocks]
[Sailor suits]
[Pinafores]
[Long stockings]
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