United States Boys' Headwear: Chronology--The 1920s


Figure 1.-- These children wear three very popular headwear styles during the 1920s for us. They were also popular in the early and mid-30s. These children wear three of the nost popular styles. Girls wore tams. Boys wore flat caps. Both boys and girls wore stocking caps.

We know a great deal about American headwear in the 1920s. The photographic record clearly shows that headwear was common. Photography in the 19th century was primrily studio based. Photography clearly moved outside the studio with the advent of the Lodak Brownie and the advent of family snapshots (1900). But the 1920s, snapshots far outnumbered studio photgraphy. We see both caps and hats, but caps were clearly dominant. Hats were not very popular for boys in the 1920s. Some boys wore hats, but most boys wore caps and one style dominated. Boys wore a variety of caps during the 1920s. The flat cap, however, became a universally popular style for boys after World War I (1914-18) in the 1920s. While there were several different styles, none were even approached the popularity of the flat cap. And there were no social class associations. Boys from all social classes wore them. While not universal, the flat cap was by far the dominant cap style. There were also specialized winter styles with ear flaps and fur, probably fake furs. Stocking caps continued to popular winter caps. Some boys from affluent families might wear British-styled peaked caps. By the 20s peaked caps had acquired an upper-class association. Younger boys might wear berets, but we do not see them at school, except among girls. After Lindberg solo flight across the Atlantic (1927), aviator-style caps called hemets became popular. Both boys and girls wore stocking caps. Girls wore tams or more traditioinally styled berets.

Prevalence

We know a great deal about American headwear in the 1920s. The photographic record clearly shows that headwear was common. Photography in the 19th century was primrily studio based. Photography clearly moved outside the studio with the advent of the Lodak Brownie and the advent of family snapshots (1900). This is important because family snpshots tell us what children normally wore, not how they were dressed up for a portrait. By the 1920s, snapshots far outnumbered studio photography. And we see more headwear in the 1920s snapshots than in the 19th studio photography.

Types

We see both caps and hats, but caps were clearly dominant. Hats were not very popular for boys in the 1920s. Some boys wore hats, but most boys wore caps and one style dominated. We see juvenile style hats, inclusingsailor hats, but no longer the wide-brimmed style. We do not yet see the fedoras that boys began wearing with suits when drssing up that began to appear in the 40s. Boys wore a variety of caps during the 1920s. The flat cap, however, became a universally popular style for boys in the 1910s and this contginued after World War I (1914-18) in the 1920s. We have noticed a number of different names (newsboy, golf, motoring, and other caps). We note them being worn both casually for play, to school, and for dressy occassions with suits. There were many different stylistic variations to the flat cap. While there were several different cap styles, none were even approached the popularity of the flat cap. While not universal, the flat cap was by far the dominant cap style. Flat caps were more commonly worn with knickers, but we see some older boys wearing lon pants, espepecially by the end of the decade. . We also see peaked caps like the British school cap. But the peaked cap did not have a school association in America. Another cap style worn was the beanie. After Lindberg solo flight across the Atlantic (1927), aviator-style caps called hemets became popular. And we see berets, but were not very common for boys.

Seasonality

There were also specialized winter styles with ear flaps and fur, probably fake furs. Stocking caps continued to popular winter caps. The avitor helnet caps were also popular during the winter.

Age Trends

Caps and hats were commonly worn by both men and boys. Men most commonly wore hats and boys more commonly wote caps. There as some oiverlap. Berets were commonly worn with short pants. Berets were also worn by little boys, but in America were generally considered a girl's cap. Younger boys might wear berets, but we do not see them at school, except among girls. Girls commonly wore berets--often called tams, but very rarely flat caps and never beanies. A few boys still wore sailor caps, especially in the early 1920s.

Gender

Girls wore tams or more traditioinally styled berets. Both boys and girls wore stocking caps.

Social Classes

There were no social class associations connected with the flat cap. Boys from all social classes wore them. Some boys from affluent families might wear British-styled peaked caps. By the 20s peaked caps had acquired an upper-class association. Boys from affluent families might wear English-style peaked cap when dressing up, often with short pants.







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Created: 6:25 AM 1/15/2008
Last updated: 9:27 PM 10/27/2017