Figure 1.-- This unidentified American boy wears a fancy knee pants suit with extensive stripe detailing and brightly colored striped long stockings. Notice the small white collar and small bow. The tin-type portrait is undated, but looks like the 1870s.

The suits and dress outfits worn by younger boys varied more chronologiclly than those worn by older boys. And there were many more varied styles than those worn by older boys. We know relatively little about the early-19th century. Without photography have relatively few paintings and drawings to go on. The the styles of juvenile outfits were limited at the time. We mostly see boys wearing skeleton suits and tunic outfits, at least boys from fashionable families. We know a great deal about these varied style as result of the invention of photography (1839). Based on the photographic record at mid-centuty, most younger boys once breeched just wore shirts and trousers rather than suits. Some boys may have worn small editons of their father's suits. Without photography our information is limited. We know much more about trends once photography appeared. At mid-century we see a lot of boys wearing collar buttoning military jackets (1840s-50s). We begin to see shortened-length pants for younger boys, but long pants were still standard even for younger boys. Cut-way jackets also become popular (1860s). We see a wide range of button-on outfits made in many different styles (1860s). And we see a variety of fancy styles like Zouve (1860s), sailor suits, and othe styles with elaborate detailing and embroidery (1870s). Knee pants suits were becoming increasingly popular. Age conventions varied somewhat from family to family. Kilt suits appeared with various jacket styles. The Zouave style was French and the sailor suit British. Boys might wear blouse suits which had a blouse made in suiting material rather than a jacket. Latter the Fauntleroy style appeared (1880s). This was the first destinctly American style. The Fauntleroy sttles would be aajor influence (1880s-90s).

The 1800s

We know retively little about the early-19th century. Without photography have relatively few paintings and drawings to go on. The the styles of juvenile outfits were limited at the time. We mostly see boys wearing skeleton suits and tunic outfits, at least boys from fashionable families. Without photography our information is limited. We know much more about trends once photography appeared.

The 1840s

We know a great deal about these varied style as result of the invention of photography (1839). Based on the photographic record at mid-century, most younger boys once breeched just wore shirts and trousers rather than suits. Some boys may have worn small editons of their father's suits. We see a lot of boys wearing collar buttoning military jackets (1840s-50s).

The 1860s

Albymen printing appered (1860s). With CDVs and cabinet cards we have a much greater number of images to work with. We begin to see shortened-length pants for younger boys, but long pants were still standard even for younger boys. Cut-way jackets also become popular (1860s). We see a wide range of button-on outfits made in many different styles (1860s). And we see a variety of fancy styles like Zouve (1860s), and sailor suits.

The 1870s

Yonger boys wore dresses kike their susters. Age conventions concerning when boys should be breevched varied varied somewhat from family to family. Kilt suits which appeared in the 1860s became a major style. This was an option for boys rather thn dresses. We are not entirely sure, but this may have delayed beeching. Only a few boys wire kilt suits with knee pants. Kilt suits were worn with various jacket styles. We begin go see more elaborate detailing, especially enbroidery, on the jackets and in a few cases the pants as well. Most most boys still wore long bnts, but knee pants suits were becoming increasingly popular for younger boys. Brightly colored striped long stockings became fshionnle, espcially for boys. The boy here is a good examole (figure 1). The Zouave style was French and the sailor suit British. Boys might wear blouse suits which had a blouse made in suiting material rather than a jacket. <>br>

The 1880s

Kilts suits were very popular for boys from fashionable families. The Fauntleroy style and craze appeared (1885). hi was not only cut-away velvet jackets, always with knee pnts, but large ruffled collars and floppy bows. The lrge ruffled collsars were required. The floppy bows were optional. There were also lace collsrs, but the uffled collrs were much more common. This was the first destinctly American style for boys. Until this ome, Americn styles were inmprted from Europe. The Fauntleroy sttles would be a major fashion influence (1880s-90s). Sailor suits becanme increaingly popular. Knee pants suits became standard for younger boys, but were still not common for older boys. We still see some striped long stockings in the early 80s, but dark long stockings soon becme standard. Fauntleroy suits were always worn wuth dark long stockings.

The 1890s

We continue to see kilt suits, but by the end of the decade they were declining in populrity. We also see far fewer boys wearing dresses by the end if the decade. We coninue to see collar-buttoning suit jackets--the last decade they were popular. . We do not see many cut-way jackets for boys, except with Funtleroy suits. Fauntlroy suits continued to be popularity in the 1890s We not only see Fauntlriy suits, but Futkleroy vloues, large ruffled collrs and huge floppy boes. The Fauntleroy Craze had clealy ran its course by the ebd if the decade. It did did not disappear, but was clearly declining after the turn-of-th century. Sailor suits increased in popularity. And by the turn if the century we begin to to see Buster briwn suits whicg were kind of tunic suit. It was in the 1890s that knee pants suits became standard for American boys . They were fairly standard for younger boys in the 1880s, but in the 1890s we see older boys wearing them. They were mostly worn with dark long stockings.

Created: 11:56 PM 8/2/2015
Last updated: 11:56 PM 8/2/2015