Figure 1.--These American brothers were photographed in similar, but not identical sailor suits. We are not positive when the portrait was taken, but believe it was taken about 1920. We havenoted the white socks with color bands being worn in the early 1920s. Note how heavily starched the back flap of their middy blouses were. It is likely that these sailor suits are the boys' best outfits.

These unidentified American brothers were photographed in similar, but not identical sailor suits. We are not positive when the portrait was taken, but believe it was taken about 1920. The middy blouses are fairly standard and hard to date, but the socks and shoes help to date te portrait. We have noted the white socks with color bands being worn in the early 1920s. Note how heavily starched the back flap of their middy blouses were. It is likely that these sailor suits are the boys' best outfits. This is obvious not only from te starched middy blouses, but the white socks and strap shoes that the boys are wearing.

Identity

These unidentified American brothers were photographed in similar, but not identical sailor suits. While we do not know their last names, we beliee their first names were Bob and Don. Theylook tobe about 6 and 8 years old.

Location

We lnow the boys are American, but we have no idea where in American the boys are from.

Chronology

We are not positive when the portrait was taken, but believe it was taken about 1920. The middy blouses are fairly standard and hard to date, but the socks and shoes help to date te portrait. We have noted the white socks with color bands being worn in the early 1920s.

Similar Outfits

Mother has attempted to dressed the boys similarly, but the outfits are not identical. One boy has a middy blouse with shorter sleeves and without the colred detailing on the collar. We are not sure why if mother has gone this far why she did not get identical outfits. Perhaps it was just not that important or perhaps the store did nothave the same sailor syit in the two diifferent sizes. Not only are the middy blouses styled somewhat differently, but the younger boy wears a dickey with his middy blouse, but his older brother does not. This may also explain the difference in the socks. The boys white strap shoes are identical. including the little bows on them.

Hair Styles

While the boys are dressed similarly, their hair is done differently. Presumably the bangs reflected the one brother's younger age. The older brother only a year or two earlier also had his hair done in bangs. The younger brother earlier had Dutch Boy bangs with the hair long at the sides.

Dress Outfits

Note how heavily starched the back flap of their middy blouses were. It is likely that these sailor suits are the boys' best outfits. This is obvious not only from te starched middy blouses, but the white socks and strap shoes that the boys are wearing.

Play Outfits

Sailor suits were also done in play suits as well. These boys may have had sailor play suits as well. The one other photograph we have, however, shows them playing in knee pants rather than sailor suits. The boys looks, however, to be playing abnd are pictures with their trycycle and toy car. One boy looks to be in some kind of suit. The photograph looks to have been taken about 2 year before this portrait. The different hair styles are especially notable.

Created: February 10, 2004
Last updated: February 10, 2004