Figure 1.--This postcard-back portrait shows an unidentified American boy wearing a double-breasted suit with knicker pants. He looks to be about 10 years old. The postcard is undated, but almost certainly was taken in the 1910s. Postcard portraits began about 1904. Knicker suits began appearing about 1908. And the back drop like this was no longer common after the 1910s. So the 1910s is a fairly safe bet.

Double-breasted jackets seem particularly popular in the 1910s, one of the two most popular styles. This surprised us a little because growing up at mid-century, double-breasted styling was seen as rather dated, mostly worn by men, if not older men. But in the 1910s, many boys wore double-breasted suits. And there does not seem to have been any age conventions. We see quite young boys wearing the double-breasted jackets. Younger boys might wear sailor suits, but not other forms of sack suits. The boy here is a good example (figure 1). After the 10s, the double-breasted jackets begin to decline in popularity, especially for younger boys. We see fewer younger boys wearing them and the boys in general. We are not entirely sure why. There may have been a social-class factor here. We see many of these suits in studio photography dominated mostly by affluent clientele, but fewer in 1910s school photography which included a wider share of the socio-economic spectrum. A lot of these jackets were worn with fobs. The styling tended to high set lapels that provided a relatively small opening for the shirt collar and ties. We see both neckties and bow ties. Like other suits styles they were mostly worn with knickers.

Created: 8:18 PM 8/28/2016
Last updated: 8:18 PM 8/28/2016