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One of the most destinctive elements of the American Fauntleroy suit was that it was often worn with large, carefully tied floppy bows. We rarely see other neckwear tyoes, although the boys did not always wear the large floppy bows. These bows were also by European boys, but we see them more commonly in America. Fauntlerou suits were commonly worn both with and without these bows. Many American boys wwere outfitted with large bows to match the large collars that were also commonly worn with Fauntleroy suits. But the large collars were also commonly worn without these bows. Here it was up to the mother's preferences. We do not know if there were social class or other factors associated with the choice. As far as I can tell it was entirely random. We see a wide variety of different bows. There are both solid colored and patterned bows worn. There were many different colors. Unfortunately the black-and-white photography makes ut impoossible to tell much about the colors. We believe they were commonly bright colors to add a bit of dash to the commonly somber black Fauntleroy suits. We also see all kinds of different patterns. Plaid seemd to have been very popular. The bows were not just worn with Fauntleroy suits. We also see older boys wearing them with sack or regular suits sometimes combined with large Fauntlefroy collars. Often boys when they first got sack suits wore them with Fauntleroy blouses with and without floppy bows for a year or two before beginning to wear more mature collars and neckwear. The bows were most popular with younger boys who wore Fauntleroy suits, but we do see some younger boys wearing the bows.
One of the most destinctive elements of the American Fauntleroy suit was that it was often worn with large, carefully tied floppy bows. We rarely see other neckwear types. There were other options like neckties and string ties, but they were virtually never worn. The floppy bow was almost synomonous with the Fauntleroy suitand style.
Boys did not always wear the large floppy bows with Fauntleroy collars, but they were virtually the only neckwear chosen if neckwear was worn. The reason was probably size. As large lace or ruffled collars were worn as part of the Fauntleroy look, any small or narrow neckwear would just not look right.
Lace collars are commonly assiciated with Fauntleroy suits. Actually ruffled collars were much more common. We see lace collars in the 1880s, but by the 90s we see many more ruffled collars than lace collars, although rufflked collars might have some lsce worked worked into them. Floppy bows were more common with rulled than lace collars, this was especislly true of the really large floppy bows. Presumably this was because mothers did not want the beautiful and expensive lsce work covedred up by a huge inexpensive floppy bow.
These large floppy bows were also by European boys, but we see them more commonly in America. Of course the Fauntleroy fashion in general was more popular in America than any other countries. Fauntleroy suits were commonly worn both with and without these bows.
Floppy bows were popular, but were optional. Many American boys were outfitted with large bows to match the large collars that were also commonly worn with Fauntleroy suits. Given the size of the collar, any other type of neckwear would look funny. You needed something large to off set the huge collsrs. But the large collars were also commonly worn without these bows. You could skip the floppy bow and this was often the case. Here it was up to the mother's preferences. Amd a majority of mothers decided to go all the way and add the bow. Presumably fashion concious mopther wanted to add a slash of color, although we do note white and blsck bows along ith thr colorful ones. We are not sure just wehy mothers choses to add the bows or refrain from including the bow in the boy's outfit. We do not know if social class or, regional, or other matters were involved. We woyld guess that fashion concious mothers fvor the most part added the bows, but we nore rather elegantly dressed boys without the bows. We suspecy that the boy for the most psrt had little to say about the matter.
We do not know if there were social class or other factors associated with the choice. One might think that becuse
the bows were purely dcorative thst they were less common with working-class children. While they were a purely optionsl exoense, bows were not very expensive. Thus they were within the purchasing power of working-class mothers. There was a tendency of American mothers to emulate the fashions of the rich. In this case it was something they could easily do. As far as we can tell it was entirely random, but that is just a preliminary assessment..
We see a wide variety of different bows. Floppy bows were normslly tied with two full sides or weings and below two tails. The core varied in size. We are not sure what this knot was called. It was the same knot commonly used for Christmas bows. Sometimes the four elements were of equsl size. Sometimes the sides/wonfs were larger. The overall look varied with the width of the ribbon.
There were both both solid colored and patterned ribbon used for floppy bows. here were many different colors. Unfortunately the black-and-white photography makes it impoossible to tell much about the colors. We believe they were commonly bright colors to add a bit of dash to the commonly somber black Fauntleroy suits. We believe that vred was popular. We also see all kinds of different patterns. Plaid seemd to have been very popular.
The bows were not just worn with Fauntleroy suits. We also see older boys wearing them with sack or regular suits sometimes combined with large Fauntlefroy collars. Often boys when they first got sack suits wore them with Fauntleroy blouses with and without floppy bows for a year or two before beginning to wear more mature collars and neckwear. The bows were most popular with younger boys who wore Fauntleroy suits, but we do see some younger boys wearing the bows.
Floppy bows were also worn with fancy Fauntleroy blouses without a suit jacket. Younger boys isually wore white blouses. Older boys might wear colored or patterened blouses.
Floppy bows were not exclusively a boys garment. Girls might also wear them. The photographic record suggests that they were much more popular for boys than girls. We see counless American boys including younger teens wearing floppy bows with both Fauntleroy and non-Faiynbtleroy outfits. We not only see far fewer girls wearing floppy bows, but generally smaller bows than the ones worn by the boys.
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