Figure 1.--This is unidentified cabinet card photo of three siblings was probably taken in the 1900s based on the card mount and clothing. The children look to be about 4-12 years old. A reader writes, "All I could think of when I saw this was, my kids would kill me if I tried to get them to wear these clothes! Especially the outfit on the younger boy - short pants, long stockings, a bow at the neck -- never. The little girl is all in white with bows on her shoes and a starched dress with a lace bib along with ringlet curls." Actually at the time, there were a lot of options for boys that they might find a lot more objectionable. The younger boys wears a Russian blouse suit which might have been calld a Buster Brown suit at the time. The portrait came from an estate in Milton, Iowa so that may be where they lived.

A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children. It is typically gathered at the waist so that it hangs loosely over the wearer's body. The inspiration for the Russian blouse at the turn-of-the 20th century was the loose fitting garments worn by Russian peasants. Unlike many other blouse styles, there is no destinctive collar associated with the Russian blouse. We have no idea why these blouses appeared at the turn of the century. We know what the fa shion inspiration was, but we do not know why it suddenly apppeared. Many Russian blouses are worn without a collar. Others are worn with large white collars such as detachable Eton collars. Some were worn as tunic suits at lengths falling to the knees. Others were bloused at the waist and we think best described as worn as blouses. We see many worn as Russian blouse suits, meaning the a Russian blouse and matching pants, usually knee pants or bloomer knickers. They were commonly called Buster Brown suits in America at the time. We do not yet have a lot of images showing boys wearing these garments, but it seems to have been a popular outfit for younger primary (elenntry) boys. As best we can tell they were most common in the early-20th century during the 1900s and 10s. The boys look to be about 5-8 years old, but this is just a preliminary assessment at this time which we hope to refine. A good example of a Russian blouse suit is worn by Oswald Bank in 1910. Notice that Oswald does not have a collar, but a kind of buttoned band in the same material as the blouse itself. Another example is two unidentified brothers about 4-6 years old bout the same time.

Definition

A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that was formerly worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women and children. It is typically gathered at the waist so that it hangs loosely over the wearer's body.

Origins

The inspiration for the Russian blouse at the turn-of-the 20th century was the loose fitting garments worn by Russian peasants.

Chronology

We see American Russian blouse outfits in a very narrow window of the 1900s and 10s. We see few in the 1890s and 1920s. This seems time kline to be the case in other countries as well. There does not seem to be any significant differences. We do not yet have a lot of images showing boys wearing these garments, but it seems to have been a popular outfit for younger primary (elenmentary) boys. As best we can tell they were most common in the early-20th century during the 1900s and 10s. The boys look to be about 5-8 years old, but this is just a preliminary assessment at this time which we hope to refine. A good example of a Russian blouse suit is worn by Oswald Bank in 1910. Notice that Oswald does not have a collar, but a kind of buttoned band in the same material as the blouse itself. Another example is two unidentified brothers about 4-6 years old about the same time.

Construction

Unlike many other blouse styles, there is no destinctive collar associated with the Russian blouse.

Fashion History

We have no idea why these blouses appeared at the turn of the century. We know what the fashion inspiration was, but we do not know why it suddenly appeared and achieved such popularity. Russia was not like englnd anbd frbce, sadmired counttrues with a history of influemncing fashion.

Collar

Many Russian blouses are worn without a collar. Others are worn with large white collars such as detachable Eton collars.

Garment Alternatives

There were different garments employing Russin blouse styling. Some were worn as tunic suits at lengths falling to the knees. Others were bloused at the waist and we think best described as worn as blouses. We see many worn as Russian blouse suits, meaning the a Russian blouse and matching pants, usually knee pants or bloomer knickers. They were commonly called Buster Brown suits in America at the time.

Created: 4:13 AM 11/10/2017
Last updated: 8:45 PM 11/17/2017