We see quite a variety of garmenrs done with double-brasted styling. ouble-breasted styling as regards children's clothing is best known for styling on boys' suit jackets. The double-breasted style, however, was not limited to suit jackets. Parallel rows of buttons appeared on many other types of clothing, especially boys' clohing. As fr as we can tell, double breasted stylng for boys began wih keleton suits in the early-19h century. Even dresses for little boys and girls appeared in the double breasted style. In comparison to the skeleton suits and mid-19th Century suits with large numbers of buttons, some of the double breasted dresses had only four buttons. Parallel rows of buttons, however, appeared on many other types of clothing. We see them on kilt suits, Oliver Twistsuits, regular suits, and blazers. Double brested stylng was especially for sailor outfits. This included both sailor suits and sailor reefer jackets. This was probably because double-breasted stylng was adopted for many Royal Navy uniform items. Miltary styling is an important binfluence for boh boys' and men'stylng. And this is one of the best examples.

Figure 2.--This English image is undated, but I'd guess about the 1870s. The brother and sister (John and Beatrice Tynne) in matching dresses wear four buttons in a double-breasted style. Note the children's matching straw hats with flowers and elastic chin straps. While boys of the era commonly wore dresses, it was not as common to wear such girlish-looking hats.

Dresses

[Note: Sorry this page has been lost in the move from Fortune City, we are now looking for it.] Dresses for both boys and girls have been made with double-breasted styling. I'm not sure when this styling was first used in dresses, but I have seen such dressing as early as the 1860s. The double breasted dresses, however, have none of the military embelshment commonly used for boys' jackets through the 1850s. In comparison to the skeleton suits and mid-19th Century suits with large numbers of buttons, some of the double breasted dresses had as little as four parallel buttons.

Kilts

[Note: Sorry this page has been lost in the move from Fortune City, we are now looking for it.] Some kilt outfits came with double-breasted jackets. However, this style was not common. We have seen double-breasted kilts as early as the 1870s, but they may have appeared early.

Tunics

Some rarly and mid-19th Century tunics had varing elements of double breasted styling. This was not true of the tunic suits that were worn at the turn of the 20th Century.

Skeleton Suits

The first usage I have seen of double-breasted styling for boys' clothing was in skeleton suits. One of the classic characteristics of a skeleton suit was parallel rows of buttons stretching from above the waist all the way to the shoulders. Not all skeleton suits were made in this double-breasted style, but many were. The inspiration is clearly the double-breasted style of early 19th Century military uniforms. hese early suits have the look of military style jackets witha rows of large numbers of buttons--often brass buttons. Some of the suits had 30 or more buttons on them. Some were purely ornamental, but some of the suits had to be buttoned.

Oliver Twist Suits

We note that bouble-breasted styling is sometimes used in Oliver Twist suits. This of course means the use of buttons, not the lapels. The buttons was a major elemnt in some Oliver Twist outfits. It is just one of the many different styles. A good examle is a Kiddy Togs double-breasted short pants suit. This was astyle popuklar un the 1910s and 20s.

Sailor Suits

[Note: Sorry this page has been lost in the move from Fortune City, we are now looking for it.] One of the most important style for boys ever conceived was the sailor suit. Few styles have been more widely worn. Most sailor suits were worn with middy blouses that was pulled over the head. Some of the blouses buttoned up and dounle-breasted styling was used on many of these blouses.

Reefer Jackets

One of the most enduring double breasted sailor garments was the reefer jacket. The double-breasted reefer style was widely used for boys coats and jackets in the late 19th Century. They were called reefer jackets because they were worn by sailors taking in the sails, which is referred to as reefing. Short coats were needed that would not be cumpersome while the sailors were working in the rigging.

Figure 3.--Parents magazine pictured this smart double breasted suit in 1964. The caption read: "It's the season of the young, young British look when classic plaids and checks abound. To update the classics story, color becomes the key factor. Plaids play up to the young individualists. Checking in with the Continental look...a suit by Ultra. Double breasted, lined jacket has high collarless neckline, welt pockets. shorts have button on suspenders. All wool hounds tooth suit is very sporting in burgundy, white and blue combination. Sizes 3 to 7, about $26. Rob Roy turtle neck."�

Suits

Boys suits in the 1850s. These early suits have the look of military style jackets with a rows of large numbers of buttons--often brass buttons. Some of the suits had 30 or more buttons on them. Some were purely ornamental, but some of the suits had to be buttoned. After the 1850s, the double breasted jackets lost their military look. I have noted double breasted suits with a modern look as early as the 1880s, although they might have appeard earlier. At this time, the earliest image I have of a double breasted boys' suitdates to the 1890s. It is an Americium image is a boys' knee pants suit.I believe the double breasted style was used primarily for older boys'styles. I do not recall any double breasted Fauntleroy suits. Mothers beingmothers, however, some double breasted jackets were embellished with ruffledcollars, bows, and wrist ruffles. Boys' suits have been most commonly been single breasted, but the double breasted has never disappeared. Its popularity, however, has fluctuated widely from decade to decade.

Blazers

Since blazers were introduced in the late 1880s at British schools, boys have generally wore single breasted jackets. When modern suit styles developed after the First World war, single breasted blazers were generally chosen for boys. American boys generally wore their suits with knickers while British boys wore shorts. Double breasted jackets, however, were relatively rare, even during the 1930s and 40s when double breasted suits were popular for adults.