Estonian Boys' Clothes: Chronology



Figure 1.--We are not positive, but we believe that this poetrait was taken in Tallinn or oher Estonin city, during World War I. The boy wears a sailor suit based on the style of the Russian Navy. The cap tally reads "Tsesarevich" (Цесаревич), meaning Russian crown prince. Of course the Cesarevich Alexis commonly wore sailor suits, but the tally probably refers to the Russian battleship by that name. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

We do not have much chronological information on Estonia yet. Political developmens had a substantial impact. Estonia in the 19th century was part of the Russian Empire. There was subsantial industrialization in the late 19thcentury with Estonins moving into the cities which had a substantial German population. We see boys wearing Russian styled sailor suits in the early-20th century. At the time of course, Estonia was a part of the Russian Empire. We think styles in the cities were influenced by both German and Russian styles, we are less sure about the clothes worn in the country side. After World war I (1914-18) we see an increasing German influence in clothing, in part because the Soviet Union was such a society and fashion was not seen as important matter by state economic planners. After World War II (1939-45), Estonia disappeared within the Soviet Empire. Estonia and the other Baltics while not as fashioinable as the West, were the most fashionable areas of the Soviet Union. Fashions managed to penetrate the Iron Curtain, although there was a time delay. Since independence (1992), Estonias rapidly adopted the generalized pan-European fashions.

The 19th Century

We do not have much chronological information on Estonia yet. Political developmens had a substantial impact. Estonia in the 19th century was part of the Russian Empire. There was subsantial industrialization in the late 19thcentury with Estonins moving into the cities which had a substantial German population.

The 20th Century

We see boys wearing Russian styled sailor suits in the early-20th century. At the time of course, Estonia was a part of the Russian Empire. We think styles in the cities were influenced by both German and Russian styles, we are less sure about the clothes worn in the country side. After World war I (1914-18) we see an increasing German influence in clothing, in part because the Soviet Union was such a society and fashion was not seen as important matter by state economic planners. After World War II (1939-45), Estonia disappeared within the Soviet Empire. Estonia and the other Baltics while not as fashioinable as the West, were the most fashionable areas of the Soviet Union. Fashions managed to penetrate the Iron Curtain, although there was a time delay. Since independence (1992), Estonias rapidly adopted the generalized pan-European fashions.







HBC





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]
[Trouser suspension] [Blazer] [School sandals] [School smocks] [Sailor suits] [Pinafores] [Long stockings]



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Created: 4:35 AM 2/18/2010
Last updated: 4:35 AM 2/18/2010