Figure 1.--Alexei is seen here with the whole family in November 1906. He would have been about 2 years old. He still has his curls and is wearing a dress. Note the sailor collar.

As a small boy Alexei like his father wore dresses and then a variety of juvenile outfits, often with short pants. Many of these outfits were variations of Russian blouses which was also a popular style in Germany. By the time Alexei was 5 or 6 years old he began dressing mostly in sailor suits--except for ceremonial occasions. He would wear a formal bemedaled military uniform for state occasions. Until World War I began, he usually appeared in sailor suits. Presumably this was due to the preferences of his German mother. After joining his father during World War I at the front he almost always appeated in a plain army uniform. I'm not sure whose idea this was and what say, if any, Alexei had in how he was dressed.

Dresses

As a small boy Alexei like his father wore dressed. We do not yet know a great deal anout Alexei's dresses. Some appear to be little different than the dresses that his sisters wore. One dress had a square Rusian blouse collar, I'm not sure if the girls wore this dress style. We believe Alexei was breeched when he was about 3 years old.

Juvenile Outfits

Alexei was breeched on his 3rd birthday. He than began wearing a a variety of juvenile outfits, often with short pants. Many of these outfits were variations of Russian blouses which was also a popular style in Germany.

Figure 2.--Alexei is seen here in 1908 during the winter. He wears a dark long pants sailor suit with a reefer jacket.

Sailor Suits

Alexei is more associated with te sailor suit than any other garment. He wore sailor suits more commonly than any other European royal--even the possible exception of the English royals. By the time Alexei was 5 or 6 years old he began dressing mostly in sailor suits styled on those worn by Russian elisted sailors. Some of the early photographs show Alexi waring short pants sailor suits with strap shoes. The photographs of him as an older boy show him wearing long pants sailor suits. He wore a combination of outfits. He had both white and dark suits. He also sometimes wore a white middy blouse with dark trousers. The dickies for his middy blouses often had broad stripes. Until World War I began, unless formally dressed he usually appeared in sailor suits. Presumably this was due to the preferences of his German mother.

Formal Uniforms

While Alexei commonly wore sailor suits, for a ceremonial state occasion, he would wear a formal bemedaled military uniform for state occasions. We do not know a great deal about these uniforms. We do not know what they were modeled, presumably they were based on the uniforms of high offers in the army. Different branches of the army, however, had very destinctive uniforms. The headwear in particular was destinctive. We also do not know what all the medals were for.

Fauntleroy Suits

Fancy velvet suits with ruffled collars were still a popular style in the 1900s. Some European royals wore them. We have not, however, noted Alexei wearing them. They do not appear to have been popular in Russia.

Army Uniform

After joining his father during World War I at the front he almost always appeated in a plain army uniform. There appears to have been two styles. One had a type of Russian blouse tunic. The other had more of a standard World War I military-styled shirt. I'm not sure whose idea this was and what say, if any, Alexei had in how he was dressed. He appears to have worn this outfit as his every day outfit and not just for public appearances. After he started wearing this, he is rarely pictured in other outfits. He even wore in captivity.

Created: June 19, 2001
Last updated: June 25, 2001