Figure 1.--This portrait is undated, but looks to be tasken at the turn of the 20th century. The boy is not identified. He wears Little Lord Fauntleroy suit with a fancy cut-away jacket. His elaborate Fauntleroy blouse has a dimond-shaped pattern. Poka-dots were more common We are unsure about the color of the diamonds. His jacket looks to be wool with striped lapel detailing. collar and matching wool pants. His b;ouse has a huge ruffled coolar. His hair is done in elaborate, long ringlet curls with a small bow on one side. He is standing on a fancy white wicker chair or stand of some kind. The photgrapher is L. A. Douglass, Independence, Iowa. There is writing in pencil on the back side which reads: "Howard said to give this to Ralph. I will write soon?" Could the boy be Howard?

Patterns are obviously much easier to make out than colors in the phogographic record, although it is not always possible to make out a specific pattern. We are not sure when patterned blouse first appear. We note them in the later-19th century, but they could have appeared earlier. Most blouses were solid colors. Even so we do notice a number of patterened blouses. We do not yet know much about the patterns as our archive is still limited. The vast number of blouses we have found were solid colored, usually white. As far as we now the pattern blouss were mostly colored patterns on a white blouse, Although we have noted a few patterns on colored blouses. We are not yet sure about the types of patterns. We notice polka-dots or other geographic shapes like diamonds. There were many other patterns, including much more complicated patterns. Stripes were also used, but this may have been a 20th century style. We have not yet found 19th century wexamples. As result of the 19th century blavk and white photograpjy, we are mot yet sure about the colors in which the patterns were done. We are not sure if patterns were very common on men's shirts.

Popularity

Patterns are obviously much easier to make out than colors in the phogographic record, although it is not always possible to make out a specific pattern. We do not yet know much about the patterns as our archive of patterened blouses is still limited. This suggests that plain blouses were much more common. While most blouses were white or solid colors, we have noted some patterned blouses. We have noticed enough patterned blouses to know that they were a popular choice among mothers.

Chronology

We are not sure when patterned blouse first appear. We note them in the later-19th century, but they could have appeared earlier.

Blouse Color

Most blouses we have found in the photographic record were solid colors. The vast number of blouses we have found were solid colored, usually white. It is difficuklt to descriminate between white blouses and very-light colored blouses. So we are mnot entirely sure that all the white looking clouses were actually white. Unfortunately the black-and-white photography of the day offers few clues as to the colors used. This makes any treatment of color difficult to assess. As far as we now the pattern blouse were mostly colored patterns on a white blouse, Although we have noted a few patterns on colored blouses. Normally these were white patterns on relatively light-colored blouses. We have not yet found an examples of a dark blouse with white patterns. We can not yet say they did not exist, but we have not yet found examples.

Blouse Styles

We note patterned blouses done in various styles. There were both fancy Fauntleroy blouses with lrge collars as well blouses done in plainer styles with smaller collars.

Specific Patterns

We do not yet know much about the patterns as our archive of patterened blouses is still limited. We are not yet sure about the types of patterns. We notice polka-dots meaning fill-in circles of various stars. Other geographic shapes included diamonds and triangles. There were many other patterns, including much more complicated patterns. There may have been other patterns besides these basic geomeric shapes. Stripes were also used, but this may have been a 20th century style. We have not yet found 19th century examples of striped blouses.

Pattern Colors

As result of the 19th century black and white photograpjy, we are mot yet sure about the colors in which the patterns were done.

Adult Styles

We do not know yet if pattern blouses were a boys' styles. We are not sure if patterns were very common on men's shirts oe girls and womens blouses. .

Created: 5:26 AM 9/10/2006
Last updated: 8:11 PM 11/12/2009