Figure 1.--This CDV portait shows an unidentified Massaschusetts boy wearing a colarless button-on suit with baggy bloomer knickers. The portrait is undated, but looks like the 1860s, probably the late-60s. The baggy knnckers may be a fashion unfluenced by Civil War Zouave uniforms. Moms and phographerrs usually had combs ready. We have no idea whatvhappened here. I cab't believe a mother negligently let her son be photographed lik. Wec suspect tyhis was her idea of styling. e The studio was Lovell & Kniwlton in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Boys wore various kinds of pants with these button-on suits. They were commonly done in the same color and suituing material as the tops. The pants types were somewhat relatred to the type of pants suitable for boys at the time. This varied over time, depending on the changing popularity and conventions associated with the different pants types. We notice both long pants, knee pants and bloomer knickers in the 19th century. In the 19th century we see a lot of long pants suits because long pants were still common for even younger boys at the time that these suits were most popular. This was at mid-centyury and into the 1870s. Shortened-length pants were an innovation at mid-century, but at first only for younger boys and boys part of well-to-do families kin fashionasble cities. . Whatever the styles were for boys up to about 8-years of age. We see slightly older boys, but gthey were less common. Bloomer knickers and long pangts seem the most common common. The bloomer knickers varied substantially. Some were very trim fitting. And others were extrodonarily voluminous and baggy. We have no idea about the terms used to describe the various pants at mid-century. After the turn-of-the 20th century, short pants begin to become more common. We see short pants in the 20th century instead of knee pants and knickers. The 20th century version were generally done for younger boys, mostly pre-school boys perhaos the youngest primary boys as well at least in the earliest years. And they were dress up and firmal styles for special occassions.

Material

Boys wore various kinds of pants with these button-on suits. They were commonly done in the same color and suituing material as the tops. There was no difference among the various types

Conventions

As with other suits, the pants types for button-on suits were somewhat related to the type of pants suitable for boys at the time. This varied over time, depending on the changing popularity and conventions associated with the different pants types.

Length

We notice both long pants, knee pants and bloomer knickers in the 19th century. In the 19th century we see a lot of long pants suits because long pants were still common for even younger boys at the time that these suits were most popular. This was at mid-centyury and into the 1870s. Shortened-length pants were an innovation at mid-century, but at first only for younger boys and boys part of well-to-do families kin fashionasble cities. . Whatever the styles were for boys up to about 8-years of age. We see slightly older boys, but gthey were less common. Bloomer knickers and long pangts seem the most common common. The bloomer knickers varied substantially. Some were very trim fitting. And others were extrodonarily voluminous and baggy. We have no idea about the terms used to describe the various pants at mid-century. After the turn-of-the 20th century, short pants begin to become more common. We see short pants in the 20th century instead of knee pants and knickers. The 20th century version were generally done for younger boys, mostly pre-school boys perhaos the youngest primary boys as well at least in the earliest years. And they were dress up and firmal styles for special occassions.

Created: 11:53 PM 12/9/2022
Last updated: 5:45 PM 7/3/2023