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Kilt suits were very commonly worn by American boys from confortable or well-to-do families. They were much less commin for boys from working-class families. And boys from well-to-do families were the most likely to have their hair done in ringlets. And both ringlets amd kilt suits were very popular at about the same time. This is why we see so many boys wearing them with ringlet curls. Hair styles actually varied from short hair to long ringlet curls. Some mothers cut their sons hair while he was still wearing dresses and kilts, but others boys continued wearing curls even after breeching. Not all boys with long hair wore it in ringlets, but after the publication of Little Lord Fauntleroy in 1885, ringlets became very popular for boys in America. Ringlets were mot as common in Europe. Most boys we see wearing kilt suits have short hair, but quite a number have ringlets. It is difficult to tell the relative importance of the different styles, except from the proprtion of each in the photographic record, but there are some statistical problems here. It is likely that the relative importance of certain hair styles may have been different than the population as a whole. Kilt suits were a garment most popular among affluent and middle-class families. The same of course is the case with ringlet curls. The kilt suit was a major style for pre-school boys. The number of boys wearing kilt suits is a factor in the number of images showing boys wearing ringlets with them. Some boys even wore kilt suits after they began school, although not to school. Quite a few of the images we have found of boys wearing ringlets show them wearing kilt suits rather than Fauntleroy suits. And unlike dresses, we can be sure the child is a boy if he is wearing a kilt suit. Girls wore dresses and not kilt suits. We begin to see kilt suits in the 1870s and they are much less common after the turn-of-the 20th century. This is very close to the time time frame that ringlets were popular for boys. And with kilt suits we do not have the difficulty with gender identification because girls did not wear them.
Quite a few of the images we have found of boys wearing ringlets show them wearing kilt suits rather than Fauntleroy suits which is the dominant outfit in the popular mind. Kilt suits were very commonly worn by American boys from confortable or well-to-do families. They were much less commin for boys from working-class families. And boys from well-to-do families were the most likely to have their hair done in ringlets. And both ringlets and kilt suits were very popular at about the same time. This is why we see so many boys wearing them with ringlet curls. It is difficult to tell the relative importance of the different styles, except from the proprtion of each in the photographic record, but there are some statistical problems here. It is likely that the relative importance of certain hair styles may have been different than the population as a whole. Kilt suits were a garment most popular among affluent and middle-class families. The same of course is the case with ringlet curls.
Long hair can be done in a range of styles. We see quite a few European boys with long hair that is left loose and not done in ringlets. This was fairly common. In America, however, it was much more common to do long hair in ringlets. Thus boys wearing kilt suits who had long hair usually had in done in ringlets. This is not to say that most boys had ringlets, but it was quite common.
The kilt suit was a major style for pre-school boys. The number of boys wearing kilt suits is a factor in the number of images showing boys wearing ringlets with them. Some boys even wore kilt suits after they began school, although not to school.
With kilt suits there is no gender confusion. and unlike dresses, we can be sure the child is a boy if he is wearing a kilt suit. Girls wore dresses and not kilt suits. With kilt suits we do not have the difficulty with gender identification because girls did not wear them.
We begin to see kilt suits in the 1870s and they are much less common after the turn-of-the 20th century. This is very close to the time time frame that ringlets were popular for boys. Ringlets appeared earlier, but seem most common for boys in the 1880s and 90s.
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