Figure 1.--This photograph shows Franklin at about 3 years, probably in 1883. His hair is quite long, but not done into ringletst. He wears a white dress with a large lace collar. Note the white sicks and strap shoes. Also notice the wide brimmed hat with what looks like a large plume.

Franklin as a very small boy wore dresses, as was the custom of the day. This was especially true for boys from affluent families. HBC does not have a lot of information on the dresses that he wore. Several authors mention that he did wear dresses, but provide few details on the styles he wore or what he wore on different occasions. Also unknown is what he wore for ordinary every day clothes or for play. One available image shows him at 3 years old in a rather frilly white dress with a wide brimmed hat with a plume or flowers. Surely it must have been for special occasiins, although he is pictured on a donkey for what was probably a daily outing. Dresses styled for boys were available in the 1880s, but there is nothing boyish about his dress in this photograph. I am not sure as just what age he was breeched, but it appears to have been at 4 or perhaps 5 years of age. He appears to have worn both dresses and kilted skirt-like outfits. Perhaps he wore kilts at 4 and 5 years and actual dresses earlier. I'm also not sdure that once he wore kilts that he then never wore any of his dresses again, or if it was a more gradual process. Perhaps he wore both dresses and kilts for a while. Certainlyy Sarah must have given considerable thought to Franklin's clothes. Whether she setvit down in writing or wrote to family and friends about such matters, I do not yet know.

Custom

Franklin as a very small boy wore dresses, as was the custom of the day. This was especially true for boys from affluent families. The practice was not universal, but for a boy from an affluent family like Franklin it was fairly common. The age at which dresses were worn and the styles could be quite varied. In most families it was left yp to the disgression of the mother. In a family like Franklin's where the mother was strong-willed, her decissions were law.

Infant Dresses

New born babies wor long dresses, in part to keep thm protevtively warm. Sara reported that Franklin at 5 months began to wear short skirts. She explained this was because "he loked to kick and feel free to move about". [Ward, p. 113.]

Styles

HBC does not have a lot of information on the dresses that Franklin wore. Several authors mention that he did wear dresses, but provide few details on the styles he wore or what he wore on different occasions. We have several photographic portraits, but mother may have just dressed him in his best dresses for these portraits. Dresses styled for boys were available in the 1880s, but there is nothing boyish about his dress in the several photographs we have noted. They look suitable for a girl with lace and ruffle trim, rather like a child's best party dress. We notice one stule with out flounces, but a large embroidered collar. They are, however, somewhat simple styles. We have seen girls at the time wearing much more elaborately decorated dresses. The ones I have seen are all white. Some are worn with colored waist sashes. We are not sure about the colors of the sashes. We are also not sure if he had play dresses. Given the fact that his parents were rich, perhaps there were no play clothes as such. Here we just do not know.

Convention

Also unknown is what he wore for ordinary every day clothes or for play. One available image shows him at 3 years old in a rather frilly white dress with a wide brimmed hat with a plume or flowers. Surely it must have been for special occasions, although he is pictured on a donkey for what was probably a daily outing. As he was photographed in these dresses, one has to assume that Sarah insisted that he wear his best clothes. I do not know of any boyhood pictures of Franklin in informal play clothes. Perhaos he did not have any. Or perhaps Sarah just didn't want him photographed in them. So we just do not know if he had less fancy play dresses that he wore from day to day.

Age

I am not sure as just what age he was breeched, but it appears to have been at 4 or perhaps 5 years of age. He appears to have worn both dresses and kilted skirt-like outfits. Fraklin seems to be a liitle older when weraring kilts thn in the portraits where he is wearing dresses.

Breeching

No information is available on Franklin's breeching. Was it done on his birthday? Was it made a special event? Was in private or were friends and family invited? At this time we just do not know.

Practices

Perhaps he wore kilts at 4 and 5 years and actual dresses earlier. I'm also not sure that once he wore kilts that he then never wore any of his dresses again, or if it was a more gradual process. Perhaps he wore both dresses and kilts for a while.

Sarah

Certainly Sarah must have given considerable thought to Franklin's clothes. Whether she set it down in writing or wrote to family and friends about such matters, I do not yet know.

Sources

Ward, Geoffrey. Before the Trumpet: Young Franklin Roosevelt, 1882-1905 (Harper and Row: New York, 1985), 390p.