I have little information on Italian styles for boys hair. I
hope to eventually acquire information, but there seems to be
little Italian activity on the internet. Language is probably a
priblem.
Italian mothers in the 19th Century commonly dressed
small boys in dresses, as was the practice throughout
Europe. I have no details on when boys were generally
breeched in Italy.
Figure 1.--This Italian boy in a image taken about 1890 wears a double-breasted suit with sailor suit styling. Note the curls and hair bow. |
Italian mothers appeared to have generally resisted cutting
their sins hair before breeching. As a result, many boys appears
to have worn long hair well after breeching. This appears to have been a
particularly common practice with wealthy families. This
practice cintinued into the 20th Century and did not go out of
style until the First World War (1914-18).
It appears that Italian mothers were particularly
enamored of leaving their sons in long hair. Some mothers curled the long
hair of their boys,
but curling may not have been as popular as in the United States.
Itlakian mothers appear to have been particularly enamored of tieing
hair bows into their sons long hair. This pratice was most common after
the turn of the 19th Century as hair bows grew in popularity with
girls. Many mothers, especially wealthy mothers, thought the fashion
was also stylish for their sons. As rich people set fashions in the
19th Century, it is likely that many middle class mothers also
aopted this custom.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Hair bow pages:
[Main Hair bow page]
[French hair bows]
[Italian hair bows]
[Sweedish hair bows]
[United States hair bows]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Italian pages:
[Main Itlalian pages]
[Italian school uniforms]
[Italian Scouts]
[Italian youth groups]
[Italian choirs]
[Italian royalty]
Navigate related Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site pages:
[Main style page]
[Hair styles]
[Collar bows]
[Dresses]
[Kilt suits]
[Kilts]
[Fauntleroy suits]
[Fauntleroy dresses]
[Sailor dresses]
[Pinafores]
[Smocks]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Biographies]
[Bibliographies]
[Activities]
[Countries]
[Photography]
[FAQs]
[Contributions]
[Boys' Clothing Home]