Figure 1.--Here we see an unidentified American boy, we believe in the 1870s. Notice how mother has aded all kinds of fashion complications to thr basic sailor style. Note the short ringlets at the sides, well above the shoulders. This was not as common as the shoulder-length ringlets.

Ringlets were done in a wide range of lengths. Most ringlet styles except for the very youngest boys approached the shoulders, but there were both shorter and longer lengths. We see some short stubby ringlets thst just teach the ears and long slender ringlets thst extended below the shoulders and every length in between. These seem to be the same different lengths that girls wore ringlets. Short ringlets do not seem very common. The most common ringlets fell well below the ears to the shoulders or just above the shoulders. This is what we see most commonly in the photographic record which is we think a good indicator of relative prevalence. We would group these different lengths into short, medium, amd long. Ringlets that extended any length below the shouders were relatively rare and might be called extended-length ringlets. We do not notice any major chronological trends for these various lengths. There was a age variable in that most really young boys did not have sufficent hair for really long ringlets. We do not notice any particuler length associated with different styles of garments. We see the same lengths of ringlets worn with kilt suits, Fauutleroy suits, sailor suits and other styles popular for younger boys.

Lengths

Ringlets were done in a wide range of lengths. Most ringlet styles except for the very youngest boys approached the shoulders, but there were both shorter and longer lengths. We see some short stubby ringlets thst just teach the ears and long slender ringlets thst extended below the shoulders and every length in between. These seem to be the same different lengths that girls wore ringlets. Short ringlets do not seem very common. The most common ringlets fell well below the ears to the shoulders or just above the shoulders. This is what we see most commonly in the photographic record which is we think a good indicator of relative prevalence. We would group these different lengths into short, medium, amd long. The fividing line nerween the three alternatives is the shoulders. Shorter styles are above the shoulders. And longer styles a=extend beloe=w the houlders. The midium length was yjebmost commom, at ot approacjing the shoulders. Ringlets that extended any length below the shouders were relatively rare and might be called extended-length ringlets.

Ages

There was a age variable in that most really young boys did not have sufficent hair for really long ringlets.

Chronology

We do not notice any major chronological trends for these various lengths.

Associated Garments

We do not notice any particuler length associated with different styles of garments. We see the same lengths of ringlets wirn with kilt suits, Fauutleroy suits, sailor suits and other styles popular for younger boys. Here we see a boys with short ringlets wearing a sailor suit. But we see boys wearing many differentnoutfits with variiusvtinglet lengths. .

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Created: 8:21 AM 5/8/2012
Last edited: 7:52 PM 4/12/2020