American Little Lord Fauntleroy Suits: Age 7 Years

Figure 1.--This cabinent card did not indicate where it ws taken. On the back us a notation, "Jesse 7 yrs.". It looks to have been taken about 1890. Jesse is wearing a black Little Lord Fauntleroy suit, probably with a red bow. We are not sure if it was velvet. Note the fancy blouse and ringlets.

By age 7 we begin to see fewer boys wearing Fauntleroy suits, but it was not really a rare outfit for boys that age--especially before the turn-of-the 20th century. We see examples in the photographic record. Here school and the fact boys at this age were becoming more aware of themselves were important factors. Agec 7 was the secondc year of school for most children. Boys at age 6 were just beginning school generally wore what ever mother chose for them without asking a lot questions, especially in the 19th century. After a year of school, they began to be a little more worldly wise. And comments made by other boys at school were very influential about how they saw their clothes. The 1st grade had taught them a great deal. Most boys now had some idea about what to expect at school. They had learned what mother said and decided did not always work that well with their school mates. Boys at this age were much less interested in clothing than girls. But they did take notice if other boys made comments or were dressed differently than their school mates. They also were influenced by how the older boys dressed and often wanted the styles the older boys were wearing. We still see boys at age 7 wearing Fauntleroy suits, but fewer than 6 year olds and mst notably not to school. Most of what we have found are formal studio portraits which occasionally have names and ages inscribed on the back. We do not yet have much catalog information providing age ranges. We note Montgomery Wards offering classic Fauntleroy suits with cut-away jackets in 1895 up to size 7 years. This was no accident. It meant that 7 years was the oldest age for which there was a good demand for Fauntleroy suits. Of course this did not mean that this was the age that boys stopped wearing a range of Fauntleroy trim and garments with regular suits. We see quite a bit of that in photographic record. The photographic record clearly shows 7 year olds wearing Fauntleroy suits. This includes both classic Fauntleroy suits with cut-away jackets and regular suits with fancy blouses. A good example is the identical Fauntleroy suits worn by two unidentified Philadelphia brothers, we believe in the 1890s. We see, hiowever, very few boys wearing Fauntleroy suits to school. By the 1880s, school photography was becoming an established tradition. And we can track that throughout the Fauntleroy era: including the 1880s, the 1890s and the 1900s. Both Fauntleroy suits and blouses continued to be available throughout the late-1880s, 180s, and early 1900s for boys 6 years old. Most 7 year olds wore Fauntleroy suits with short hair cuts, but we note some boys with longer cuts and curls.

Age Trends

By age 7 we begin to see fewer boys wearing Fauntleroy suits, but it was not really a rare outfit for boys that age--especially before the turn-of-the 20th century. We see examples in the photographic record. Here school and the fact boys at this age were becoming more aware of themselves were important factors. Boys at age 6 were just beginning school generally wore what ever mother chose for them without asking a lot questions, especially in the 19th century. For most it was the first majir step away from home and in to the wider world. After a year of school, they began to be a little more wordly wise. And comments made by other boys at school were very influential about how they saw their clothes. The 1st grade had taught them a great deal. Most boys now had some idea about what to expect at school. They had learned what mother said and decided did not always work that well with their school mates. Boys at this age were much less interested in clothing than girls. But they did take notice if other boys made comments or were dressed differently than their school mates. They also were influenced by how the older boys dressed and often wanted the styles the older boys were wearing.

Studio Portraits

We still see boys at age 7 wearing Fauntleroy suits, but fewer than 6 year olds and most notably not to school. Most of what we have found are formal studio portraits which occasionally have names and ages inscribed on the back. Studio portrait genrally show children dressed up in their best outfirs meaning how they would be dressed for church, parties, or other outings, occasions that at the time were not photographed. The Kodak Brownie which essentially created the snap shot did not appear until 1900 whuich mean the end of the Fauntleroy era.

Catalogs

We do not yet have much catalog information providing age ranges. We note Montgomery Wards offering classic Fauntleroy suits with cut-away jackets in 1895 up to size 7 years. This was no accident. It meant that 7 years was the oldest age for which there was a good demand for Fauntleroy suits.

Fauntleroy Options

The photographic record clearly shows many 7 year olds wearing Fauntleroy outfitsd of vsrious sdtyles. This included both classic Fauntleroy suits with cut-away jackets and regular suits with fancy blouses. We begin to see a second option at about 7 years of age, regular suits in various styles, but worn with a variety of Fauntleroy trim that can be used. This could be a Fauntleroy blouse and floppy bow, but was often just a more limited Fauntleroy trim.

Regular Suits and Fauntleroy Trim

When we talk about Fauntleroy suits, we are generally talking about the classic Fauntleroy suits with small cut away jackets, fancy blouses, and knee pants. TYhis inckuded both winter suits ofebn dinev in velvet and summer suits dobe in lighter masterail. The same fancy bluses were used with both. A good example of these suits is identical Fauntleroy suits worn by two unidentified Philadelphia brothers, we believe in the 1890s.

Fauntleroy Trim

While we see fewer boys by age 7 years wearing Fauntleroy suits, of course this did not mean that this was the age that boys stopped wearing a range of Fauntleroy trim and garments with regular suits. We see quite a bit of that in photographic record and this option becomes more and more important with older sge groups. hid almot always involbved lzarge ruffled collrs snd optional floppy bows. .

Schoolwear

We see, however, very few boys wearing Fauntleroy suits to school. By the 1880s, school photography was becoming an established tradition. And we can track that throughout the Fauntleroy era: including the 1880s, the 1890s and the 1900s. Both Fauntleroy suits and blouses continued to be available throughout the late-1880s, 1890s, and early 1900s for boys 7 years old.

Hair Styles

Most 7 year olds wore Fauntleroy suits with short hair cuts, but we note a few boys with longer cuts and curls. Jesse here is agood example (figure 1).

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Created: 5:53 PM 11/2/2008
Last updated: 12:09 PM 12/23/2023