Figure 1.--Here we see a CDV showing an unidentified English boy on a hobby horse. He looks to be about 5 years old. He is wearing a standard sailor suit with three-stripe detailing. Mother has added aa derachable Etn collarto make he outfut mnore forma. The boy also has an unusual vertical striped dickey.

The sailor suits was a step in the right direction for boys in that it was comforble to wear. Many boys, especially younger boys, could care less abut what they wear. But they do care about what is comfortable and nonrestrictive. And with sailor suits there was no restrictive tight collar. And a sailor suit could be worn for play, school, and also formal occasions. Quite a number of mothers, however, while liking the sailor look, decided their sons should have a more formal look when they dressed up. So they added a collar, commonly an Eton collar. Just the sort of collar that he sailor suit moved away from. It is a little difficult o tell, but we think that the Eton collars were the detachable colas, popular at the time in England.

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[Return to the English seaside resort clothing]
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Created: 11:08 PM 6/11/2008
Last updated: 10:36 PM 10/18/2016