Figure 1.--This studio tintype shows aun unidentified boy wearing a beltless tunic, we think in the 1870s. He looks to be about 5 years old. I think he is holding the pooch's ear who desn't sem to mind. Notice the striped long stockings. It is unclear whathe is wearing undrthe tunic. Wesee a small white shirt collar and the tunic had an attached collar with what looks like black velvet trim repeated on the diagonal. The diagonal styling for the tunic was popular in the 1870s.

Most American boys wore tunics with belts. They were not universal as we see here (figure 1), but the vast majority of boys wearring tunics had belts. We see belts of some kind throughout the 19th and early-20 century. The belts had no practical purpose put on as they were around the tunic. The belt is a suspension garmentused to hold up trousers. But worn over tunics, there was nothing to hold up. And we have no idea why belts were so commonly worn with tunics. So it is interesting that they were so common for the more than a century that the tunics were popular. The belts were done in many different material. Some matched the tunic or contrasted with it, often in the same material as the tunic itself. We can usully not tell the actual color, but can discern matching or conntrasting shades. Notice that the boy's belt on the previous page has white piping at the edge. We also see belts in diffrent material, including dark heavier material including leather. The belts also varied in how they were worn. Some were worn like regular belts, straight across the waist or above it. Others were designed to be longer and fell down in front where they connected like the belt the boy on the previous page wears. In this case connecting with a button. They were never worn joining up, always down. While the great majority of tunics were worn with belts or waistbands, some boys wore tunics without these belts. It is difficult to tell if this was a stylistic matter or for some reason the belt was not added fon the day the photograph was taken. Given the purely ornamental function, it is surprising that they were so common. We believe that most of these belts were separate items and unlike dresses, not conecting in the back.

Prevaence

Most American boys wore tunics with belts. They were not universal as we see here (figure 1), but the vast majority of boys wearring tunics had belts. We see belts of some kind throughout the 19th and early-20 century. While the great majority of tunics were worn with belts or waistbands, some boys wore tunics without these belts. It is difficult to tell if this was a stylistic matter or for some reason the belt was not added on the day the photograph was taken. We believe that most of these belts were separate items and unlike dresses, not conecting in the back.

Purpose

American boys almost always wore tunics with a belt. We are not sure why The tunic belts had no practical purpose when put on as they were around the tunic. A belt worn at the waist over a tunic had no practical function. It was obviously not holding anything up. The belt is a suspension garmentused to hold up trousers. But worn over tunics, there was nothing to hold up. And we have no idea why belts were so commonly worn with tunics. It was purely a fashion convention. The primary purpose of a belt is to hold up the pants. Worn over the tunic, this obviously was not the case. We think it was kind of a military style adopted to give the tunic a boyish look. So it is interesting that they were so common for the more than a century that the tunics were popular. Given the purely ornamental function, it is surprising that they were so common.

Types

The types of belts varied as did the belt buckles. We see belts that contrasted with the tunic. Other belts kind of blended in with the tunic and were not so noticeable.

Material

The belts on tunic suits were done in different material. We also see belts in diffrent material, including dark heavier material including leather. The primary material variants were leather, fabric, and black patent leather. We are not sure about the early-19th century, but the photographic record available from the mid-19th century on provide extensive details on the belts. We see a lot of lrather belts at first. Some had substantial belt buckles. Then we begin to see fabric belts. They were done in both the same fabric as the tunic or in contrasting colors. Some matched the tunic or contrasted with it, often in the same material as the tunic itself. We can usully not tell the actual color, but can discern matching or conntrasting shades. The regular leathers belts were most common at the mid-19th century. We see mostly fabric and patent leather belts at the tunn-of-th 20th century. Whatever the color or the material, all of these belts were fashion items of no functional purpose.

Colors

Decoration

Notice that the boy's belt on the previous page has white piping at the edge. We see more poping here as well as buttons being used as a decorative device (figure 1).

Widths

The belts were done in various widths. We see both wide and narrow belts.

Wearing

The belts also varied in how they were worn. Some were worn like regular belts, straight across the waist or above it. Others were designed to be longer and fell down in front where they connected like the belt the boy on the previous page wears. In this case connecting with a button. They were never worn joining up, always down. Some were cinched tight. Others were not cinched. They required some belt loops to hold them up. You can see the belt loops on many of the images. .

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Created: 6:08 AM 10/3/2014
Last edited: 5:42 PM 2/5/2020