Figure 1.--Tunics were the height of fashion for boys in the mid-19th century. Here the British and French princes wear tnics with white pants. The French and British royal damilies were present in a meeting between Queen Victoria and King Louis-Philppe at the Chateau de Eu in Normandy (1845). The artist was Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805–73).

We have first noted tunics on boys in the early-19th Century. We believe that they were quite common for boys until the teen years. We have noted these tunics in early fashion magazines, but so far have few portraits to substantiate this. Photography had of course not yet been developed. They were mostly worn with open neck styles. Square openings were popular. the middle. Some of the tunics buttoned from neck to hem, but others only opened partly. The early 19th Century tunics suits were widely worn from the 1820s (some authors give a later date), but became less common after mid-Century. The open collar style was popular for early 19th Century tunics. The puffed sleeves that were also worn by men and women began to appear in boy's tunics during the 1820s. We notice white tunics being worn as a kind of school uniform at the New Lanark school in Scotland, a kind of educational experiment at the time (1820s). We have little information about mid-19th Century tunics. I believe that after the 1850s they became less popular until reappearing in the 1890s. However, my knowledge on tunics during this period is very limited. They were worn during the middle 19th Century. I have noted them both in America and England and believe they were worn throughhout Europe, although I have few European images from this period. Boys wore tunics to school during this period as images exist with boys carrying book bags. Double breasted styling was introduced on many children's garments during the mid-19th Century. This included double breasted styling on boys' tunics. We also noted American boys wearing single-style tunics woth belts over them. The development of pohotography in the mid-19th century created a much better look at these tunic outfits than possible during the early 19th century. As the century progresed, tunics for boys got progressively shorter. One of the most popular styles were Russian box-pleated tunics with matching bloomers and/or knickers. In the early decades of the 19th Century boys wore long trousers under their tunics which could be quite long. Neither boys or girls exposed their bare legs. Some younger boys might wear lace trimed pantalettes under their tunics instead of long trousers. As the Century progressed boys knee length garments for boys appeared. For the most part boys in knee length garments wore long stockings, but some younger boys began to appear with bare knees, a fashion to be developed in the 20th Century. Boys still in tunics by the end of the 19th Century commonly wore knee-length bloomers and, unlike his early 19th Century predecesor, rather than long trousers.

Early 19th Century (1800-40)

We have first noted tunics on boys in the early-19th Century. We believe that they were quite common for boys until the teen years. We have noted these tunics in early fashion magazines, but so far have few portraits to substantiate this. Photography had of course not yet been developed. They were mostly worn with open neck styles. Square openings were popular. the middle. Some of the tunics buttoned from neck to hem, but others only opened partly. The early 19th Century tunics suits were widely worn from the 1820s (some authors give a later date), but became less common after mid-Century. The open collar style was popular for early 19th Century tunics. The puffed sleeves that were also worn by men and women began to appear in boy's tunics during the 1820s. We notice white tunics being worn as a kind of school uniform at the New Lanark school in Scotland, a kind of educational experiment at the time (1820s).

Mid-19th Century (1840-70)

We have little information about mid-19th Century tunics. I believe that after the 1850s they became less popular until reappearing in the 1890s. However, my knowledge on tunics during this period is very limited. They were worn during the middle 19th Century. I have noted them both in America and England and believe they were worn throughhout Europe, although I have few European images from this period. Boys wore tunics to school during this period as images exist with boys carrying book bags. Double breasted styling was introduced on many children's garments during the mid-19th Century. This included double breasted styling on boys' tunics. We also noted American boysearing single-style tunics woth belts over them. The development of pohotography in the mid-19th century created a much better look at these tunic outfits than possible during the early 19th century.

Late-19th Century (1870-1900)

As the century progresed, tunics for boys got progressively shorter. One of the most popular styles were Russian box-pleated tunics with matching bloomers and/or knickers. In the early decades of the 19th Century boys wore long trousers under their tunics which could be quite long. Neither boys or girls exposed their bare legs. Some younger boys might wear lace trimed pantalettes under their tunics instead of long trousers. As the Century progressed boys knee length garments for boys appeared. For the most part boys in knee length garments wore long stockings, but some younger boys began to appear with bare knees, a fashion to be developed in the 20th Century. Boys still in tunics by the end of the 19th Century commonly wore knee-length bloomers and, unlike his early 19th Century predecesor, rather than long trousers.

Created: 11:33 PM 7/6/2021
Last updated: 11:33 PM 7/6/2021