Figure 1.--These two German brothers had their portrait taken, probably in the 1910s. The older boy wears a non-traditional sailor suit. It is clearly a sailor suit, but not styled like the German naval uniform. Image courtesy of the BP Collection. |
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We have noted sailor suits done in a wide range of different styles. There were an especially wide range of styles in the 19th century. This is the same pattern noted in other countries. There appears to have been in Germany and especially wide variety of non-traditional uniforms. I am not sure why these non-traditional styles were so popular in Germany. Here a special factor concerning Germany could have been that the country did not begin building a substantial navy until the 1890s. There were also some sailor suits which were styled fashionally with only the basic look of a sailor suit--namely the V-front and back flap. Others were closer to the look of traditional suits. Here we note a wide range of colors as well in contrast to the navy blue and white of traditional suits.
We have noted sailor suits done in a wide range of different styles. There were an especially wide range of styles in the 19th century.
This is the same pattern noted in other countries. There appears to have been in Germany and especially wide variety of non-traditional uniforms. I am not sure why these non-traditional styles were so popular in Germany. Here a special factor concerning Germany could have been that the country did not begin building a substantial navy until the 1890s.
The sailor V collar and back flaps were the most destinctive elements of the sailor suit. The traditional sailor suit had three stripe detailing carried over on the back flap. We see these suits in Germany, but we see many variations on the rtraditional style. There were probably more variations on the traditional collar in Germany than any other country. Non traditional suits played with the collar and back flap in all kinds of different ways. Usually they changed the number of stripes as well as the arranegements. Some were only minor changes like adding a fourth stripe. Others took all kinds of different approches with the stripes. Another approach was tgo add a third color to the collar, usually a lighter shade of blue. Another color might be added. Some suits alsi chaznged the shape of the collar. This might be modifications in the basic "V" collar. Other suits had entirely different collar shapes. The possible modifications are virtually infinite.
Sailor styling is instantly recognizeable, especially the "V"-front middy blouse and stripe detailing on the collar, back flap, and cuffs. There were also some sailor suits which were styled fashionally with only the basic look of a sailor suit--namely the V-front and back flap. A wide variety of patterns might be used. Patterns included bold ones, obviously non-sailor material like plaid. Some outfits diverge so far from traditional sailor styling that they are barely recognizable as sailor suits. Others were closer to the look of traditional suits and incorporated the stripe detailing commonly associated with sailor suts. Here there was an association ith the construction of the garments. The more traditional styling were more likely to be used on the standard sailor suit garments.
Here we note a wide range of colors as well in contrast to the navy blue and white of traditional suits.
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