Figure 1.--The boy on the right goes barefoot in this snapshot. If it had been taken in a studio, mother almost surely woulf have insisted on shoes and socks. The reader who contributed this image indicated that it was taken in 1897-98. As it is a snapshot, HBC woild have guessed 1900-05. HBC is not sure if the child on the left is a boy or girl. |
The classic Fauntleroy was worn with long dark stockingsby American boys. After the turn of the 20th century white stockings and white stickings of varying length were increasingly popular. Long dark stockings, however, comtinued to be worn for formal occasions--not only with Fauntleroy suits bit other outfits as well. Long dark stockings were not as pervasive in Europe. Another variable was the summer. Practical American nons often let younger boys go barefoot in the summer--even when dresses in formal outfits like Faintkeroy suits. HBC believes that this was also common in the antipodes--Australia and New Zealand. This was not common, however, in Europe where summers were shorter amd bare feet were estentially seen as an expression of poverty.
Quite a range of hosiery have been worn by boys wearing Fauntleroy suits--incliding going barefoot without any hosiery at all.
The classic Fauntleroy was worn with long dark stockingsby American boys. After the turn of the 20th century white stockings and white stickings of varying length were increasingly popular. Long dark stockings, however, comtinued to be worn for formal occasions--not only with Fauntleroy suits bit othervourfits as well. Long dark stockings were not as pervasive in Europe.
Knee socks werecnot very common at all with Fauntleroy, both long stockings and three-quarter stoclings were much more common.
HBC has noted that three-quarter stockinfs were veru common in France, nucgh more common than in America where long stockings were the dominate type of hosiery.
HBC has noted a substantial number of images of younger boys in Fauntleroy suits and other outfits likr tunics after 1900. HBC believes that boys going barefoot did not suddently become more common. This difference was probably George Eastman's Browie camera which he began selling in 1900. Before 1900 virtually all images of boys in Fauntleroy suits were taken in portait studios. Of course mother would have carefully dressed a boy fort a portrait. After 1900 you begin to see how boys actually wore Fauntleroy suits. Many American boys in the summer--especially in the south would have gone barefoot. Long stockinmgs would have been uncomfortable in hot weather. Oldeler boys may have worn lonf stickinfs, but HBC believes that large number of boys may have gome va
barefoot. This probably was the case before 1900, there just were no Browbies and few amateur photographers to catpture it.
Another variable was the summer. Practical American moms often let younger boys go barefoot in the summer--even when dresses in formal outfits like Faintkeroy suits.
HBC believes that this was also common in the antipodes--Australia and New Zealand. This was not common, however, in Europe where summers were shorter amd bare feet were estentially seen as an expression of poverty.
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