Figure 1.--This unidentified American boy wears a double-breasted suit, wing collar, and knee pants. He looks to be about 13-years old, pehaps 14-years old. The portrit is undated, but the white whicker furniture is generally found in portraits at the turn-of-the 20th century, commonly 1900-05. The studio was J.S. Wissler in Canton, Ohio.

The homberg was an adult hat style. We see some boys, however, wearing hombergs at the turn-of-the century. They look to be boys in their early-teens as well as older teens. , We would guess that boys might beginning wearing hombergs about 13 years of age, perhaps 14-years of age. It is possible that boys as young as 12-years of age could have worn hombergs. Rgus means were older boys, teenagers or about to become teens. Here we in most instances are just estimating the ages and thee is no way to be precise. It should be born in mind that boys at the time looked a little younger than modern boys. We do not see younger boys wearing standard hombergs, at least we have not found examles in the photgraphic record. In many cases boys were allowed to wear this adult headwear before other more mature styles such as long pants suits, although we do not see some of the more juvenile items such as Fauntleroy collars or really large floppy bows. This all varied from family to family. Some fashion conventions were quite strong. By the late-19th century, boys genrally wore knee pants, including many teenagers. Another strong convention is that girls did not wear pants. For some reason the conventions for headwear were not as fixed as some other garmants. There was juvelie styled headwar, especiall wide-brimmed hats, and thus we yoiunge boys wearing adilt headwear that seems totally in approprriare for sduits. Homberg for younger boys are rare, but we actually see special hombergs done for younger boys. Strangely we see some boys wearing Fauntleroy suits with about evey headwear style imaginable. We notice a Philadelphia family about the turn of the 20th centuryty with two younger boys wearing juvenie-styled hombergs.

Adult Style

The homberg was an adult hat style. It wasstyle men began wearing (1880s).

Boys' Trends

We see some boys, however, wearing hombergs at the turn-of-the century. They look to be boys in their early-teens as well as older teens. We would guess that boys might beginning wearing hombergs about 13 years of age, perhaps 14-years of age. It is possible that boys as young as 12-years of age could have worn hombergs. Rgus means were older boys, teenagers or about to become teens. Here we in most instances are just estimating the ages and there is no way to be precise. It should be born in mind that boys at the time looked a little younger than modern boys.

Younger Boys

We do not see younger boys wearing standard hombergs, at least we have not found examles in the photgraphic record.

Conventions

In many cases boys were allowed to wear this adult headwear before other more mature styles such as long pants suits, although we do not see some of the more juvenile items such as Fauntleroy collars or really large floppy bows. This all varied from family to family. Some fashion conventions were quite strong,. By the late-19th century, boys genrally wore knee pants, including many teenagers. Another strong convention is that girls did not wear pants. For some reason the conventions for headwear were not as fixed as some other garmants.

Juveile Headwear

There was juvenile styled headwar, especially wide-brimmed hats. But we alsi see younnge boys wearing adult headwear that seems totally inapproprriare for boys and for boys wearng suits. Homberg for younger boys are exceedingly rare, but we actually see special hombergs done for younger boys. Strangely we see some boys wearing Fauntleroy suits with about evey headwear style imaginable. We notice a Philadelphia family about the turn of the 20th century with two yonger boys at the wearing juvenie-styled hombergs wih vlassic Fauntleroy suits. Dad wore a top hat.

Created: 4:50 AM 3/31/2017
Last updated: 1:05 PM 3/26/2022