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Little Lord Fauntleroy suits: age grading 5 year olds
Brooklyn Brothers; Fauntleroy American Little Lord Fauntleroy Suits: Age Grading--5 Year Olds
Figure 1.---Here we see two unidentified brothers. The boys here look to be about 5-10 years old. The younger boys wears a classic cut-away jacket Fauntleroy suit with an elaborate frilly Fauntleroy blouse and huge floppy blouse--one of the larger bows we have noted, covering most of his equally large collar. His older brother wears a double-breasted suit. Note the award badge on his lapel. We can't make out the collar. Both boys have long stockings with high-top shoes. The younger boy looks to be wearing silk stockings. Given the age difference, we canot tell at what age the boys began wearing the more the more mature style. The photographer was the Old Robinson and Roe studio in Brooklyn, New York.
Here we see two unidentified brothers. The boys here look to be about 5-10 years old. The younger boys wears a classic cut-away jacket Fauntleroy suit with an elaborate frilly Fauntleroy blouse and huge floppy blouse--one of the larger bows we have noted, covering most of his equally large collar. This was issue mothers had tonconfront. They wanted both large collars and karge bows, but bthe bows covered over the collar whuch was an important part of the the Fauntleroy look. His older brother wears a double-breasted suit, a very popular style at the tuime. Note the award badge on his lapel. We can't make out the collar. Both boys have long stockings with high-top shoes. The younger boy looks to be wearing silk stockings. Given the age difference, we canot tell at what age the boys began wearing the more the more mature style. The photographer was the Old Robinson and Roe studio in Brooklyn, New York.
Reader Comment
What decade would you guess this photo is from. I notice that the knees of the boy in the Fauntleroy suit of his stockings have patches. I agree with you it appears that the stockings have some type of silk in the wool stockings. The ribbing makes me think there is a wool/silk mix. I, of course, am guessing as to what the material is. The blouse appears to have lace on it, the placket, cuffs and collars. The jacket is what is usually referred to as an admiral jacket based upon the one worn by Lord Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar. The very large buttons are obviously an ornamental element. It is noticeable that the trousers have ornamental side buttons as well as satin trim at the hem and down the side of the trousers. It is possible that the trim at the bottom hem of the trousers has a fancy bow on the side. It is also possible that it is a garter of some sort. The high top lace shoes are noticeable but are not patent leather. The older brother's high top shoes does have a patent leather portion.
HBC Response
The cabinet card portrait is undated, but se swould guess it was taken in the 1890s, bith the mount style and clothing styles suggest the 1890s. We see a lighter color at the knee, but I m not sue long stockings would have patches. Given the way thst the boys are dressed, I doubt mother would have taken them to the studio with patched stockings. Mother has xhisen a huge bow. In wonder if it was red. It is so large tht it has covered almost all of the collar, making it hard to see. But the type of material can be see in the cuffs which would have been identical to the collar. The cuffs and collar is done with cutout/eyelet lce, not true lace, but gave a kind of lace look at az lowoer price point. The adnmiral sailor suits were done with double-breasted styling, but the boys suit jacket here is not a sailor suit. I think what looks like a bow at the hem of the younger boy may be a part of the furniture. Notivce it is just oine one keg. That said, we have see many Fauntleroy suits did have bows ar the knee pants hem. The high-top shoes are very common with American boys. European boys wearing Fauntletoy suits often had strap shoes or other low-cut shoes.
