Figure 1.--This cabinet card portrait is undated, but the mount style suggests the 1890s. The unidentifued boy looks to be about 10-11 years old. He wears a tradituonal sailor suit, although with one-stripe detailing. There is a dickey with an embroidered nautical pennant. Notice how the top blouses even though it buttons. The suit has knee pants. Note the thin side stripe. The boy is posed on a chair. The studio is J. E. Reed, 5 Purchase St. New Bedford, Massachsettes.

The types of pants American boys wore with sailor suits varied over time. Knee pants were very popular in the late-19th-century and very early-20th century. We see larger number of boys wearing knee pants sailor suits. This was because knee pants became the standard boys' wear. Atually knee pants were so common that we rarely see boys wearing long panrs, ar least in urban areas. Sailor suits were an exception. Some were done with long pants. For many boys during the 1890s-1900s, it was their only long pants until well into their teen years. Sailor suits were one of the most popular outfits for boys. They were very popular both with boys and parents. We see older boys wearing sailor suits during the period that knee pants wee most common. For some reason as knee pants declined we began to see sailor uits declining in popularity as well, although much less precipitously. Boys also wore knee pants with regular suits. And when knickers replaced knee pants about 1910, the change occurred for both regular suits and sailir suits. Most suits were made with knee pants during the late-19th century because that was what most American boys wore. This was especially the case in the 1890s and very early 1900s. Most boys wore knee pants sailorsuits with with long dark stockings. It was not very common to go brefoot with sailor suits. There were both dark and white knee pants worn on a seasonal basis, but the dark pants and suits seem most common. Boys commonly wore black long stockings even with white knee pants. Younger boys might wear white stockings, but they were not as common. The knee pants were cut at different length depending on the popular style at the time. Early sailor suits at long, calf-length knee pants. By the 1890s we see knee pants actually cut at knee length. This was true for both sailor suits and regular syuts. This continued to be the standard length in the 1900s.

Chronology

The types of pants American boys wore with sailor suits varied over time. We see knee pants appearing about the same time that knee pants appeared. Knee pants were very popular in the late-19th-century and very early-20th century. We see larger number of boys wearing knee pants sailor suits. This was because knee pants became the standard boys' wear. Actually knee pants were so common that we rarely see boys wearing long panrs, ar least in urban areas. Sailor suits were an exception. Some were done with long pants. For many boys during the 1890s-1900s, it was their only long pants until well into their teen years. Sailor suits were one of the most popular outfits for boys. They were very popular both with boys and parents. We see older boys wearing sailor suits during the period that knee pants wree most common. For some reas on as knee pants declined we began to see sailor uits declining in popularity as well, although much less precipitously. And when knickers replaced knee pants about 1910, the change occurred for both regular suits and sailir suits. Most suits were made with knee pants during the late-19th century because that was what most American boys wore. This was especially the case in the 1890s and very early 1900s. After 1910 when knickers became standard for boys we see many boys wearing knicker sailor suits. We also see knee pants suits in the 1910s, one of the few outfits still done with knee oants rather than knickers. These seem to have been dobe along with Oliver twist suits.

Other Oufits

Boys also wore knee pants with regular suits.

Hosiery

Most boys wore knee pants sailor suits with with long dark stockings. It was not very common to go brefoot with sailor suits. There were both dark and white knee pants worn on a seasonal basis, but the dark pants and suits seem most common. Boys commonly wore black long stockings even with white knee pants. Younger boys might wear white stockings, but they were not as common. We see summer suits done with knee pants in the early 20th centyry, inclusing the 1910s when knickers were more common. They were commonly worn with white three-quarter socks and strap shoes.

Length

The knee pants were cut at different length depending on the popular style at the time. Early sailor suits at long, calf-length knee pants. By the 1890s we see knee pants actually cut at knee length. This was true for both sailor suits and regular suits. This continued to be the standard length in the 1900s.

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Created: 10:29 PM 6/28/2008
Last updated: 10:29 PM 6/28/2008