Figure 1.--This postcard back portrait had embossed borders. The unidentified boy wears a dark Norfolk knickers suit with a classic Eton collar. The floppy bow and cleave bow presumably means that it was his First Communion suit. Notice the white floves. The AZO stamp box dates the photograph to 1918-30. We would guess it was proavly taken before 1925. The photographer was the Walter Studio in Newark, New Jersey.

Norfolk suits were one of the most popular suit styles for American boys during the late-19th and early-20th century. Many suits during this period were either Norfolk suits or had Norfolk styling elements. We see large numbers of American suits during this period done with Norfolk styling. It was not prescisely a boy's style, but it was particularly popular for boys' suits, especially after the turn-of-the century when it did become essentially a boy's style and especially popular. The Norfolksuit done with knickers was the standard boy's suit in both the 1910s and 20s, but it had begun to decline in popularity by about 1925. They were mostly done with knee pants and even more comonly with knickers. Short and long pznts wre much less common. They wee most worn with dark long stockings. We note large numbers of thdse suits in both cztzlogs and the photographic record. We believe dark blue Norfolk suits were especially popular. We see quite a few worn as First Communion suits at a time when it was sill not very common to buy white suits just for the service.

Created: 6:24 AM 9/29/2014
Last updated: 6:24 AM 9/29/2014