Figure 1.--Much of our fashion assessments are based on photography which in the 19th century was primarily studio photogrphy. Suit jackets dominated men and boys fashions in the 19th century. We rarely get to see the shirt-like garments they were wearing. Only with the 20th century do we get to see the shirt and blouse becming the major garment. This Chicago cabinent cad is undad, but the white blouses, outdoors settin, abnd coloe of the mount all suggest it was taken after the turn of the century in the 1900s decade. We see four children about 2-8 years old. The two older chikldren wearng fanncy white blouses are boys. We thik the younger children wearing white dresses may also be boys, but we are not sure. The studio was H.J. Dewey in Chicago.

Torso tops varied significantly over time. Shirt-like garments were not yje major grment worn in the 19th century. Shirts, blouses and other tops were commonly civered upwith suits jckets. After the turn-of the 20th century, suitjackets began to decline in importanxe abd the shirt emerged as the most important garment. There were only a few choices in the 19th century, Manu more choices for boys appeared in the 20th centuryThe basic types of torso tops worn by American boys are collared and non-collared types. The collared types are shirts and blouses. Blouses are today seen as a girls' garment, but in the 19th and early-20th century, thet were commonly worn by boys. The non-collared types are shirt-waists in the 19th century. They were very common as the collar is the element that gets the most wear and gets dirty the fastes. Thus detacle collars that appeared in the mod-19th century made a lot of sence. T-shirts, and singlets appeared in the 20th century and with the increasinly casual era became very common. After World War II, T-shirts become increasingly important. The elements of these tops are collars, sleeves, plackets and wrist treatment with collars being especially importnt. Sleeves for boys were long sleeved in the 19th century with short sleeves only appearing in the 20th century.

Chronology

Torso tops varied significantly over time. There were only a few choices in the 19th century, Manu more choices for boys appeared in the 20th century. Thus detabcle collars that appeared in the mid-19th century made a lot of sence. T-shirts, and singlets appeared in the 20th century and with the increasinly casual era became very common. After World War II, T-shirts become increasingly important. The collared types are shirts and blouses. Blouses are today seen as a girls' garment, but in the 19th and early-20th century, thet were commonly worn by boys. The non-collared types are shirt-waists in the 19th century. The elements of these tops are collars, sleeves, plackets and wrist treatment with collars being especially importnt. Sleeves for boys were long sleeved in the 19th century with short sleeves only appearing in the 20th century.

Types

The basic types of torso tops are collared and non-collared. The collared types are shirts and blouses. Blouses are today seen as a girls' garment, but in the 19th and early-20th century were commonly worn by boys. Blouses are today seen as a girls' garment, but in the 19th and early-20th century were commonly worn by boys. Perhaps the most famous blouses worn by American boys were the Fauntleroy blouses with lace or ruffled collars during the 1880s and 90s. Most of the these were blouses with attached collars and cuffs. All were long sleeves. Some of the lace collars pinned on, but many of the large collars seen in the old photgraphs are blouses with attached collars. These blouses came in a wide variety of styles. They were most notable for the sometimes huge size of the collar and matching cuffs. This contrasts with the Eton collars which almost alwats were detachable collars. The shirt waist was a very common garment in the 19th century. It was an adatation to deal wih drugery of laundry. Without laundry detergents and washing machines, it was a huge part of the chores women had to deal with. They were very common as the collar is the element that gets the most wear and gets dirty the fastest. So paied with detchble collars they becamde a major shirt-;ole garment. Shirts gradually become dominant in the 20th century. Shirts were never done in the fancy styles of late-19th century blouses. The non-collared types are shirt-waists, T-shirts and singlets. After World War II, T-shirts become increasingly important.

Elements

The elements of these tops are collars, sleeves, plackets and wrist treatment with collars being especially importnt. Many tops wre known by the type of collars. Boys in the mid-19th century tended to have had very small collars. The collars in many instances were so small that they are difficult to identify. Collars increased in size by the late 19th century. There were various styles. Younger boys in the late-19th century might wear lace collars. We also note plainer Eton and Peter Pan collars, although that term was not yet used. By the turn of the 20th century, ruffled collars becamme more common. A good example here is a boy in Washington, Pennsylvania about 1905. Many school age boys in the late 19th and early 20th century wore Eton collars when dressing up. By the 1950s preppy styles were popular, Many boys wore shirts with bitton-down collars. Collarless "T" shirts became increasing popular in the latter patof the 20th century. One reader writes in 2006, "I have great difficulty getting my son who is in 5th grade to dress up. He doesn't even like collared shirts and insists on wearing T-shirts to school because of peer presure. He tells me, 'Mom the other guys don't wear those shirts." Sleeves for boys were long sleeved in the 19th century with short sleeves only appearing in the 20th century.

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Created: 12:08 AM 2/27/2023
Last updated: 12:08 AM 2/27/2023