Figure 1.-- This cabinet card is undated, but the mount style suggests the 1890s. We see two unidentified brothers about 6-10 years old wearing matching bouse outfits. The collars blouses have Eton shapes, but are not stiff or white and are part of the blouse. The front is done with double-breased styling. Not the older boy has his blouse actually blouced. The younger boy has the blouse tucked into the waist band. We are not sure why mother has doje up the boys differntly. Pehzps it ws because the boys dressed rhemselves. We do not know what color the vlouses wre, but they were obviously a darl collar. The boys both wear kne psnts and long stockings and identical hair cuts. The only difference is their peaked caps, one done in frabic and the other (on the ground) in straw. Also notice their pooch.The studio was Brooks & Wylie with two studios (Rochester and Fairport, New York.

Several construction elements were involved in a blouse. The major style elements were the collar, front, sleeves and wrist cuffs, and waistlne. The collar often defined the blouse, but other importnt elements were important. Often the collar and cuffs were coordinated. Color was also used as a style element. The collar was the most destinctive element. Collars varied greatly in size largely on a chronological basis. Smll collars were very common in the mid-19th century. We note blouses with small collars and ballon sleeves. A good example is an unidentified American boy. Gradually larger collars became more popular. Some blouse collars by the late 19th century were huge with back flaps like a middy blouse. Thy Fauntleroy blouses popular at this time were most notable for the the fancy styling and huge size of the collar. They also often had matching cuffs. Blouses were different ythan hirts in that they did nit have tails. We are not entirely sure whu that was, but sispect it was the need not to interfere with stocking supporters. B;ouses appeared at a time when most boys, especially American boys, wore long tocking which need to be spported. The term blouse comes from how thewaistline bloused out. This was done by a drawstring.

Created: 10:44 PM 12/17/2014
Last updated: 10:44 PM 12/17/2014