Little Lord Fauntleroy Blouses: Square Collared Blouse


Figure 1.--This is an actual Little Lord Faintleroy blouse worn by a young boy in the late 19th century. Click on the image to see an enlargement of the blouse front.

The blouse pictured here was advertized on e-Bay. It was for a younger boy, about 3-4 years old. This is a fairly standard classic Little Lord Fauntleroy blouse. It was designed to be worn with a small velvet Fauntleroy jacket so that the rich detailing could be seen. The most destinctive feature of this Fauntleroy blouse is the very large and lace trimmed collar. The blouse is made of a very fine 100 percent cotton broadcloth material. There were mother of pearl buttons, but they are not vissible in the available images. The buttons are located under the front placket It is white which would contrast with a black or other dark-colored Fauntleroy suit. These blouses were also worn during the summer without the jacket. The blouse could be worn with velvet kneepants or a plaid skirt kilt.

Chronology

This vintage American Fauntleroy blouse looks to have been made in the 1890s or early 1900s.

Size

It was for a younger boy, about 3-4 years old.

Design

This is a fairly standard classic Little Lord Fauntleroy blouse. It was designed to be worn with a small velvet Fauntleroy jacket so that the rich detailing could be seen. The most destinctive feature of tghis Fauntleroy blouse is the very large and lace trimmed collar. There are tucks down the front. We do not have a back view, but it almost ceratinly had a large back flap like a middy blouse. There is also a front breast pocket.


Figure 2.--This is the modest eyelet lace detailing at the sleeve cuff. Click on the image to see the more elaborate eyelet lace work on the extremely large collar.

Collar and Cuffs

The large collar collar is in the destinctive square form. The collar is very large, note that it comes almost half way down the front (figure 1). Both the collars and cuffs and front are trimmed with beautiful ruffled and inserted eyelet lace. The collar is edged in elaborate eyelet lace (figure 2). The collar edging was done in both exterior and interior rows. This was a more inexpensive than actual lace, but widely used in these boys' Fauntleroy blouses. Note the fancy collar trim is not repeated at the waist. It is, however, repeated at the cuff, but only very moderately (figure 2). Many Fauntleroy blouses did not have elablorate sleeve cuff trim, but it is a little unusual on a blouse with such a large, elaborate collar.

Material

The blouse is made of a very fine 100 percent cotton broadcloth material.

Buttons

There were mother of pearl buttons, but they are not vissible in the available images. The buttons are located under the front placket (figure 3).


Figure 3.--The mother of pearl buttons are covered by a front placket.

Color

It is white which would contrast with a black or other dark-colored Fauntleroy suit.

Conventions

These blouses were also worn during the summer without the jacket. The blouse could be worn with velvet kneepants or a plaid skirt kilt. Both blouse and jacket which would be worn in cooler weather. At the time there were not yet any short sleeved shirts. This blouse is not nearly as fancy as some we have seen.






Christopher Wagner






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Created: September 27, 2001
Last updated: September 27, 2001