* United States boys clothes: headwear chronology 20th century 1910s caps








United States Boys' Headwear: Chronology--1910s Caps


Figure 1.-- The flat cap emerged as the principal headwear for American boys in the 1910s. It also with corduroy knickers became almost synomamous with American boy hood. It was not the only cap or headworn worn, but it was by far the most common. We see boys wearing a variety of headwear in the 1900s, but by the 1910s the flat cap was while not universal the clealy dominant style.

Most boys wore caps in the 1910s, but hats were still common. This actually would be the last decade in which hats were commonly worn by boys, although caps were more common. The flat cap continued to grow in popularity during the 1910s. Caps in the 1900s were more diverse. We still see other caps in the 1910s, but the flat cap was decidely the most popular style, especially by the mid-1910s. The flat cap is today seen as a rather casual style, but for boys in the 1910s it was worn both as a casual style as well as a more formal style with a suit, although there were some differences from family to family. Some suits even had matching caps. We see boys wearing British-styled peaked caps in the 1900s, but in the 1910s, while the peaked cap did not disappear, the flat cap became dominant. Many boys wore flat caps to school. We see other cap styles mostly in the winter. Boys in northern states might wears woodsmen caps. The flat cap could be worn during the winter and many flat caps had flaps that could be pulled down over the ears. We are not sure how common this was. Relatively few images show the ear flaps pulled down, but we sugggest the flaps were more common that suggested by the photographic record. The British-style peaked cap which was quite common in the 1900s declined in popularity. It also began to take on a more upper-class association and became more of a formal style worn with suits.

Variety

We note a substantial variety of caps American boys were wearing in the 1900s. And we see boys still wearing a variety of caps at the the beginning of the 1910s decade. The two most common styles were the peaked cap and the flat cap. The flat cap quickly became nearly universal dring the decade and like knickers an iconic symbol of the decade. The peaked cap took on a social class connotation. The flat cap was worn by boys from all social classes and walks of life. There were minor differences in styles, primarily as to how flat the top pf the cap was. This continued into the 1920s. We also see beanies, berets, and sailor caps. Winter wear was a bit different. Many flat caps had ear flaps which could be turned down. Some peaked caps dis as well, butwe are not sure how common this was. There were specialized winter caps, including woodsmans caps and stocking caps. Woodsmans caps were just for boys, but both boys and girls wore stocking caps. There were differences, especially in colors. Girls stocking caos were more likely to have poms.

Specific Styles


Beanie


Beret


Flat Cap

The flat cap continued to grow in popularity during the 1910s. Caps in the 1900s were more diverse. We still see other caps in the 1910s, but the flat cap very rpidly became decidely the most popular style, especially by the mid-1910s. The flat cap is today seen as a rather casual style, but for boys in the 1910s it was worn both as a casual style as well as a more formal style with a suit, although there were some differences from family to family. Some suits even had matching caps. Many boys wore flat caps to school. The flat cap could be worn during the winter and many flat caps had flaps that could be pulled down over the ears. We are not sure how common this was. Relatively few images show the ear flaps pulled down, but we sugggest the flaps were more common that suggested by the photographic record. They were different styles of flat caps and many were not really flat on top. And boy had different ways of forming the peak.

Peaked Cap

We see many boys wearing British-styled peaked caps in the 1900s, but in the 1910s, while the peakd cap did not diappear, the flat cap became clearly dominant. The British-style peaked cap which was quite common in the 1900s declined in popularity. It also began to take on a more upper-class association and became more of a formal style worn with suits. Some had ear flaps although we are not percisely sure when they were added. We do not see these ear flaps in England. Peaked caps were mostly done it suiting colors and fabrics and might actully be purchased with a suit as a matching item. In fact the peaked cap in the 1910s became a cap usually worn with suits. This was not the case in the 1900s when we see boys wearing peaked caps as one of several casual caps. We do not see the bright colors associated with school wear that we seen in Britain. Some private American schools adopted the flat cap as part of a school unifornm, but this affected a relatively small numbr of boys. The peaked caps we note in the early-20th century commonly had a relatively small peak or bill. We begin to see an age range convention developing between the peaked cap and the flat cap in the 1910s.

Sailor Cap

We still see sailor suits and caps in the 1910s. They were worn by both pre-school boys and elementary (primary) school boys, although they were declining in poularity for boys beyond the very early primary ages. We see some broad-brimmed hats at the beginning of the decad for pre-school boys, but mostly we see caps. We still see the saucer styled caps that sailors were wearing.

Stocking Cap


Woodmans Cap

We see other cap styles mostly in the winter. Boys in northern states might wears woodsmen caps.






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Created: 8:55 PM 8/10/2014
Last updated: 2:59 PM 3/22/2019