Figure 1.--This Philadelphia boy wears a dark colored velvet skirt suit. I'm not sure about the color. The image was undated, but it looks to have been in the 1860s. His last name was Jordan. Click on the image for a more detailed discussion of the boy's clothing |
We have noted skirts being worn both with matching jackets. This Philadelphia boy was photographed in the 1860s. He looks to be about 5 years old and from an affluent family. He wears a rather elegant velvet skirt suit with elbow-length sleeves. The blouse has a small collar and heavily bloused sleeves. He also wears above the knees elasticized pantalettes, white socks and strap shoes.
This carte-de-visite came out of an album assembled by Lottie Jordan of Pennsylvania. I think this boy may be her younger brother, but we have no proof of this nor do we know his first name. Given the elegant outfit, the nboy probably came from an affluent family. The fact that this was a child's portrait by himself also suggests affluence.
The boy looks to be about 5 years of age.
This portrait was taken at the F. Gutekunst of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
The portrait was undated. The style of the bow, the small collar, and the blouced sleeves suggest the 1860s. The quality and style of the carte-de-visite also suggests the 1860.
The hair cut it is very short. It is not unlike a hair style a modern biy might wear.
The boy wears a matching velvet jacket and skirt. It is a dark suit, but we are unsure about the color.
Like a kiltsuit, the jacket matched the skirt. The jacket is a short garment that was worn open, only connected near the collar. It does not seem to be buttoned, but rather connected by some sort of cord. There do not appear to be any buttons nor do I note any pockets. The sleeves are cut just below the elbows. The jacket is small like a classic Fauntleroy jacket.
The skirt matches the jacket and is unpleated.
The material looks to be velvet. This would make it an expensive suit.
The suit is a dark color, but it may noit be black. It could be a dark blue, green, and brown.
The boy wears a blouse with a small collar, but large heavily flounced sleeves. He wears a small black bow. He wears wears white socks, elasticized pantalettes, and strap shoes.
Blouse: The boy wears a blouse with a small collar, but large heavily flounced sleeves. Rge jacket was worn open and the blouse was designed to be seen. This may be more an issue with the image quality but the blouse appears to be back buttoning. There certainly do not seem to be any buttons, but HBC does not know to what extent back buttoning blouses were worn in the 1860s.
Bow: He wears a small black bow.
Pantalettes: He wears above-the-knee pantalettes. They seem to be elasticized. One reader believes that he is wearing a petticoat under his skirt, but it looks more like pantalettes to HBC.
The pantelettes worn are seem rather plain except for the gatherings
around the knees. I am also guessing that his pantelletes are designed to be worn above the knees since this posed picture has that stylistic character. Earlier in the 19th century, especially before the 1850s,
we have seen others where they worb below the knee.
Hosiery: He wears wears white three-quarter length socks.
The three quarters socks are very plain and appear to be of a think
nature.
Shoes: He wears strap shoes with the strap coming from the back and crossing at the ankle. The strap shoes are very notable because I think they have a buckle added at the top. A reader reports buckles
were additions to shoes during the Victorian era. [HBC note: Shoes are an area that HBC has not addressed in sufficient detail, but we associate buckle shoes with the 18th century.] The buckles could be added to any shoe for additional adornment. There also appear to be bows at the front of the shoe.
HBC has no information as to just what this boy thought about his skirt suit. One reader says the boy looks annoyed. We are not positive if that isthe right description of his expression. He certainly does not look overjoyed.
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