Figure 1.--This unidentified Detroit boy wears a long dress with no waistline. The portrait is undated, but look like the 1890s to us. He looks to be about 2 years old. |
|
We see American boys wearing dresses with varying hem lengths. We note hem lengths which varied from just at or more commonly just below the knee to long ankle lengths covering the child from the neck to the ankle. We do not see higher lengths because they were not worn at the time boys wore dresses. Knee-length dresses were worn by some little girls in Europe, but not in America. Many dresses were dome a mid lengths, about calf level. The really long hems look rather unusual on young children. Long hems were worn for women both for modesty and fashion. Both of these factors would seem less important for very yong children especially little boys. This is difficult to assess, but we can gather information on the various lenghths and chronology. As this process develops we can begin t assess the prevalence of the various lenghs and the conventions involved. We find the same pattern in the other skirted garments boys wore such a skirts and kilts.
The highest hems were knee lengh. We do not see higher lengths because they were not worn at the time boys wore dresses. Knee-length dresses were worn by some little girls in Europe, but not in America. We do not see many examples of short dresses.
Many dresses were done at mid-lengths, about calf level. We notice quite a few dresses with mid-lengh hems, but have just begun toarchive them here. .
We see many portraits of boys wearing long dresses. We are not yet sure about girls of comparable ages. Both boys on the previous page in the 1880s had ankle length drsses. This depended on chronological fashions as well as the age of the child. The really long hems look rather unusual on young children. And we are not sure why this was so common. Long hems were worn for women both for modesty and fashion. Both of these factors would seem less important for very young children especially little boys. Long dresses were, however, very common, especially for the yonger boys. We are not sure why this was, but there are some possibilities. One is warmth. Another is to provide room for growth, For centuries this was the length worn. Notab;y we see yonger boys wearing dresses even though after the mid-19th century we see older boys and gurls wearing shorter dresses. Long dresses for infants seems understandable, but for toddlers just learming how to walk they seem a vey unpractical choice. We see these long dresses into the very early-20th century.
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web dress pages:
[Return to the Main U.S dress length page]
[Return to the Main U.S. national dress page]
[Pinafores]
[Ringlet curls]
[Smocks]
[Bodice kilts]
[Kilts]
[Fauntleroy dresses]
[Sailor dresses]
[Fancy dresses]
[Dresses: 16th-18th centuries]
[Dresses: Early-Mid-19th century]
[Dresses: Late-19th century]
[Dresses: Early 20th century]
[Difficult images]
[Movie dresses]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[Essays]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]