Figure 1.-- This CDV portrait was taken by the Piper's Studio in Manchester, New Hampshire. The portrait is undated, but looks like the late-1860s or early-70s to us. The boy is unidentified, but written on the back is "age 5". The boy wears a vested kilt suit done in a flat pattern, but detailed with bold stripes. We cannot sea the blouse or shirt, except at the wrist cuffs. We do see a cross tie. Notice how mother has picked out matching striped long stockings.

Some kilt suits were done in flat or solid-colored material. We notice quite a number of these suits. Unfortunately the black and white photgrapht of the day also provide little information as to the colors. We note, however, a wide range of shades from black (often velvet) to white and all shades in between. Here we see a light-colored suit, but it is not white (figure 1). Some of the flat fabrics were done as very plain kilt suits/. Others has a variety of detailing such as stripes to decorate the kilt suit. This was especially the case for kilt suits done with sailor styling. The flat fabric, usually velvet, was also commonly used in Fauntleroy kilt suits. We note a few Fauntleroy kilts with flat fabric jackets and plaid kilts.

Created: 8:40 PM 3/9/2010
Last updated: 8:40 PM 3/9/2010