United States Boys' Clothes: Ages


Figure 1.-- Here we see one American mother's approach to age grading, we think in the 1910s. The boys look to be from about 2 to 11 years of age. Each of the boys is dressed destinctively. Notice that the hair styles except for the baby are identical.

American boys clothing and fashion have varied over time by age. Thus one interesting line to pursue is to look how boys dressed at every chronological age over time. Old photohrraphs do not always identify ages, but this is usually possible to estimate with a fair degree of accuracy. We have realtively little information for early periods throrough the early-19th century. With the invention of photography (mid-19th century) we can follow age developments in some detail, especially the United States where photogrohy was especially popular. There are wide variations over time as well as how basic age groups were clustered together. At some times the differences were not great except for the very youngest. At other times the age differences were pronounced and expressed in many different ways. Some of the most important ways of differentiating ages have been breeching, pants, length, and collar and neckwear styles. We note mahot age groupings, including todlers, primary school, and then teenagers. The basic age breaks within these groups have varied over time. For many years in the mid-19th century the dufferences after breeching were not large. By the late-19th and early-20th centurty, age greading was pronounced. Most boys wanted to dress like dad or at least older brothers. Many mothers and even fathers were, however, determined to pursue age greading. Some mothers with large families found both major and minor differences to differentiate each child. This of course varied from familt to family. Some parentsettled the issue by just dressing everyone in identical or similar outfits. The popularity of these various approaches varied substantially from family to family.

Chronological Ages

American boys clothing and fashion have varied over time by age. Thus one interesting line to pursue is to look how boys dressed at every chronological age over time. Old photohrraphs do not always identify ages, but this is usually possible to estimate with a fair degree of accuracy. We have realtively little information for early periods throrough the early-19th century. With the invention of photography (mid-19th century) we can follow age developments in some detail, especially the United States where photogrohy was especially popular.

Age Clustering

There are wide variations over time as well as how basic age groups were clustered together. Retail catlogs are especially useful here. We note major age groupings, including todlers, primary school, and then teenagers. The basic age breaks within these groups have varied over time.

Important Garments

At some times the differences were not great except for the very youngest. At other times the age differences were pronounced and expressed in many different ways. Some of the most important ways of differentiating ages have been breeching, pants, length, and collar and neckwear styles.

Age Gradeing

For many years in the mid-19th century the differences after breeching were not large. By the late-19th and early-20th centurty, age greadeing was pronounced. Most boys wanted to dress like dad or at least older brothers. Many mothers and even fathers were, however, determined to pursue age greading. Some mothers with large families found both major and minor differences to differentiate each child. This of course varied from familt to family. Some parentsettled the issue by just dressing everyone in identical or similar outfits. The popularity of these various approaches varied substantially from family to family. Age grading gradually declines in the 20th century as family sizes tended to fall.







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Created: 6:56 PM 9/18/2012
Last updated: 6:56 PM 9/18/2012