Figure 1.--I'm not sure who the painter was, but this portrait was probably painted about 1805. Notice the open ruffled collar on the blouse. The boys wears long pants and white stockings. Most men of quality at the time still wore knee breeches. Note the interesting hat.

HBC has first noted blouses during the early 19th century. They were worn with the popular skeleton suits of the day. HBC does not yet have much information on the blouses worn during the early 19th century. Many in the 1790s and 1800s were ruffled opened necked. By the 1810s the blouses were increasingly worn closed and sometimes quite high. Open collars were not seen again for boys for about a century when some Fauntleroy blouses began to be worn in Europe in the 1910s. The best example being the ones worn by the Belgian princes. Boys at the mid-19th century usually wore blouses rather than shirts, Most of the blouses were solid colors, although striped were also worn. White collars were popular, but of modest size. Middy blouses became popular in the 1870s and fancy Fautleroy blouses in the 1880s. Blouses coninued to be worn by boys and girls into the early-20th century. Boys after World War I (1914-18) began to wear shirts more commonly, but some younger boys might wear blouses for dress occasion. One popular style for younger boys were blouses with Peter Pan collars. Occasionaly for formal occasions a younger boy might wear a blouse with a ruffled collar.

Early 19th Century

HBC has first noted blouses during the early 19th century. They were worn with the popular skeleton suits of the day. HBC does not yet have much information on the blouses worn during the early 19th century. Many in the 1790s and 1800s were ruffled opened necked. By the 1810s the blouses were increasingly worn closed and sometimes quite high.

Mid-19th Century

HBC has little information at this time on boys' blouses during the mid-19th century. Wehave begun to collect some Daguerreotypes which provide some information. Younger boys might have blouses without collars and low necklines. A good example is an unidentified American boy about 1850. White collars appear to have been popular, but were of generally modest size.

Late 19th Century

Boys at the mid-19th century usually wore blouses rather than shirts, Most of the blouses were solid colors, although striped were also worn. White collars were popular, but of modest size. Middy blouses became popular in the 1870s and fancy Fautleroy blouses in the 1880s. Quite a range of blouses were made for boys. The sizes were commonly made beginning about size 4 as this was the age that many parents began to breech boys. The most common ages for this was 4-5 years. Blouse sizes run to age 14, although the fancu styles with ruffles commonly to size 12.

20th Century

Both boys and girls continued wearing blouses in the 20th century. They were sill very common fir boys in the 1900s decade. A good example is an American boy Charles Longmore in 1909. We see some fancy blouses. pen collars were not seen again for boys for about a century when some Fauntleroy blouses began to be worn in Europe in the 1910s. The best example being the ones worn by the Belgian princes. Bu fancy blouses were declning in popularity. Most boys wore standard blouses with modest, usually attached collars. We still see blouses in the 1910s, bu that was the last decade that blouses were standard. A factor here was long stockings and stocking supporters. Blosing at the waust allowed stocking supportes to hold up pants and stockings. As long stockings declined in popularity for boys, so did blouses. Boys after World War I (1914-18) began to wear shirts more commonly, but some younger boys might wear blouses for dress occasion. One popular style for younger boys were blouses with Peter Pan collars. Occasionaly for formal occasions a younger boy might wear a blouse with a ruffled collar. Collars wih pointed tips became standard, but these were on shirs which had largely replaced bluses for boys by the 1930s.

Created: August 13, 2000
Last updated: 4:03 PM 10/30/2024