Figure 1.--Mother here has outfitted each of the three boys in different types of suits, including a tunic suit, a sailor suit, and a regular scack suit. The portrait is undated byt looks to have been taken about 1905-10. Notice the similar hair cuts.

There were a variety of age conventions associated with suits. Parents used a range of age gradeing devices. Here the possible variations were very large, limited only by the imagination of the parents, usually mother. They included styles, neckwear, collars, and pants. Parents varied on the use of these devices. They chose various decices, the size and prominance of decices like collars and neckwear, and the age seen appropriate for the various devices. And the popularity of the different devices and the age appropriatemess has varied over time. Some parents might make big destintions such a Fauntleroy or other suits for the younger boys and sack suits for the older boys. Other parents might make destinctions in the boys outfits even if they were close in age and wearing identicak suits by varying the style and size of the collar and neckwear.

Mother

There were a variety of age conventions associated with suits. Parents used a range of age gradeing devices. Here the possible variations were very large, limited only by the imagination of the parents, usually mother. Mother was usually responsible for dressing the children, especially the younger children. She would have been the one to chose the juvenile suit styles as well as added items like collars and neckwear.

Age Gradeing Devices

We see many period portraits in which the children are dressed differently depending on their age. Pre-school boys might wears dressess or kilt suits. School age boys mostly wore suits with pants. There were several devices used for age gradeing of boys wearing suits. They included suit styles, neckwear, collars, and pants. Also younger boys might wear vlouses rather than suit jackets. These were all at times used for age gradeing. The popilarity of this approach and the specifics of each item have vaied over time as well as the actual age deemed appropriate for these various devices. Hair styling was also used, but usually in addition to the various suit devices.

Approach

Parents varied on the use of these devices. They chose various devices. The type of suit was a major decesion. the size and prominance of devices like collars and neckwear, and the age seen appropriate for the various devices. The age-grading convention continued into the 20th century when trouser length rather than suit tyoe was a primary element.

Chronology

The practice of age-grading childrens clothing is a realtively modern phenomenon. We do not see it in the 17th century. Boys after breeching wore the same styles as their fathers, only in smaller sizes. The popularity of the different devices and the age appropriatemess has varied over time. Boys and men dressed alike through the 18th century. The style of suit began to be a factor in the late-19th century. Age grading seems rather a 19th century convention, in part because, destinctive styles for children appeared only in the late-18th century and were largely a 19th century development. As the 19th century progressed more and more destinctions appeared for children of different ages, especially the boys. Age grading was very pronounced bb the late-19th century. The photographic record shows that in was a convention widely practiced thriughout America, although the approach varied from family to family. The type and size of collars came to vary widely. Neckwear was particularly common in the late-19th and early 20th century. Pants became increasing important in the late-19th century and early to mid-20th century.

Level of Destinctions

Some parents might make big destintions such a Fauntleroy or other suits for the younger boys and sack suits for the older boys. Other parents might make destinctions in the boys outfits even if they were close in age and wearing identicak suits by varying the style and size of the collar and neckwear.

Causes

Parents in the 19th century, especially the second half of the century, adopted the ptactice of age grading. This was the convention of dressing children, especually boys, based on age. This was especially apparent in boys' clothing. Choosing the type of suit was one of the principal means of age grading. There were other methods such as types of collars and neckwear. We are not entirely sure why age grading became so pronounced after mid-century. Age grading is a phenomenon associated with the Victorian era. It seems associated with the developing industrial economies and urbanization. The clothing of city boys was much more likely to be age graded than rural children. We suspedct that economic affluence was a factor here.

Gender

Age grading was much more pronounced for boys than girls.

Social Class

Created: 4:44 PM 6/2/2008
Last updated: 8:30 AM 9/15/2010