Figure 1.--These brothers and sisters in the late 19th century were alldressed in identical smocks. Note the smocking at the front.

Available images suggest that some American boys were dressed in smocks during the late 19th Century. A mother might dress her entire family, boys and girls in identical smocks. The back buttoning styles were generally chosen. I believe this was most common in wealthy families. Almost all the available images of families so outfitted appear to be wealthy or affluent children. I am not sure why this was. One would think that less affluent mothers might want to protect their son's clothes. And after all the smock was introduced by the French Republic to reduce the obvious differences in income shown by the clothing children wore to school. Perhaps smocks in America were perceived as a fashionable European style. Perhaps boys that were not carefully cared for at home did not want to wear smocks because they would be teased. Unlike European boys, smocks were not adopted as school wear and this there were not large numbers of smock-clad boys trudging to and from school. Styles of the smocks varied. In many cases they were probably made to order. I am not sure about the colors, but I think white was popular. The smocks for boys were the same as the ones worn by girls. Some had smocking. Most had long sleeves.

Prevalence

Available images suggest that some American boys were dressed in smocks during the late 19th Century. HBC had no solid data on the prevalence of smocks for boys during the late 19th century. They certainly were never adopted for school wear as was the case in Europe.

HBC's initial assessment is that they were worn, but mostly by boys in relatively affluent families. HBC believes this was most common in wealthy families. Almost all the available images of families so outfitted appear to be wealthy or affluent children. I am not sure why this was. One would think that less affluent mothers might want to protect their son's clothes. And after all the smock was introduced by the French Republic to reduce the obvious differences in income shown by the clothing children wore to school. Perhaps smocks in America were perceived as a fashionable European style. Perhaps boys that were not carefully cared for at home did not want to wear smocks because they would be teased. Unlike European boys, smocks were not adopted as school wear and this there were not large numbers of smock-clad boys trudging to and from school.

Conventions

A mother might dress her entire family, boys and girls in identical smocks. Some 19th century families were quite large and as a result with children of different ages. Images confirm, however, that some mothers kept all of the family in virtually identical smocks. Older boys were no doubt exempted, but HBC is not yet clear as to what age boys would no longer be allowed to wear smocks.

Figure 2.--Robert Lesher is pictured here in an emaculate white smock. Note the curls. He looks to be about 4 years old and hold his sister Olive's doll. HBC estimates the photograph to have been taken in the 1880s.

Styles

The back buttoning styles were generally chosen. In fact all of the 19th century smocks that I have noted are bacj-buttoning smocks.

Styles of the smocks varied. In many cases they were probably made to order. Some were very plain, utilitarian garments. Others were much more elaborate--even with extensive smocking. Most had long sleeves.

Available images suggests that 19th century smocks tended to have large, but plain collars in the same color as the smock. HBC has not noted large white collars worn with colored smocks as developed in the 20th century.

Color

I am not sure about the colors, but I think white was popular. Available photographic images show that some color smocks were worn, but HBC is not sure about the colors. They look to have been darker colors rather than the pastels that became popular in the 20th century in Europe.

Gender

The smocks for boys were the same as the ones worn by girls. HBC has noted no differences in the smocks worn by girls and boys during the 19th century. Certainly older girls wore smocks than boys, but the design of the smocks were idebntical for the boys and girls wearing them. In fact whole families wore smocks. It is likely that a younger brother might wear his older sister's outworn smock.

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Created: October 8, 2000
Last updated: October 8, 2000