Figure 1.--This tin-type portait shows a brother and sister wearing identical plaid dresses with what looks like a lay on lace collar. The portait is undated, but we would guess was taken in the 1880s. The 1890s is possible, but the collar suggests that the 80s is more likely. The children look to be about 4-7 years old. Notice that the boiy's hair has been cut very short. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

We also see brothers and sisters wearing dresses. Of couse this was less common than than sisters because of the age limitation imposed by the breeching age. It was a widespread convention for younger boys to wear dresses. Most boys were breeched somewhere between age 3-6 years of age. Thus we vmpstly see brothers of that age wering dresses with their sisters. Famolies at the time tebded to be larger, so quitr a few families at keast for a time had broiters and sisterscwearing dresses. This was just one aspect of the popular convention of dressing childrren identically. Of course dresses could be very different for boys and girls. Here this varied from family to family, but untill the 1890s boys and girls generally wore similarly styled if not identical dresses. Although the kilt suit appearing in the 1870s provided a specifically boy option for unbreeched boys.

Created: 9:17 AM 10/7/2020
Last updated: 9:17 AM 10/7/2020