Figure 1.--Here we see three unidenytified American brothers. They look to be about 4-11 years old. The two younger boys wear idenical button-on sailor suit with knee pants, but without the ornamental knee hem buttons. They are done in what looks like a heavy wool fabric for fall and winter wear. At the time knickers were standard for boys, but younger boys might wear knee pants or short pants. We might have dated the snapshot in the 1910s, but the low-cut shoes and knee socks the one boy is wearing are more associated with the 1920s. The other two boy may be wearing long stockings. we are not sure about the color, they do not look to be blue, probably brown or grey. A similar vintage outfit gives an idea of color. The older boy wears a knickers suit rather than knee pants like his younger brothers..

We see many boys wearing button-on sailor suits. This was a style for younger boys. It was also a way of holding up the pants, a problem which had to be solved for younger boys. They were mostly done with knee pants, shirt pants and knickers. This was not an exclusively American style, but the style seems more popular in American than any other country. This was a major style for boys. We see suspenders mpre commonly used in Europe. Suspenders were also used in America, but were not neatly as common for younger boys in America and were not used for sailor suits. The buttons were commonly used in the styling, but even if large white front buttons are not used, the styling is obvious because the blouses do not blouse out. We believe that these primarily appeared during the 1910s. We are, however, still working on the precise chronology. Button-on styling itself did nor originate in the 1910s. Actually the first dedicted boy's outfit was the button-on skeleton suit in the late-18th century. This was, however, before the sailor suit appeared for boys. We also see button on suits in the 1860s, but on a lot of button-on sailor suits. Sailor blouses which bloused out using waist draw cords seem particularly popular for sailor suits. We are just befinning to collect information on them. The image here is a good example (figure 1). These outfits were very common for younger boys. We see large numbers of these button-on suits. Sailor suits were just one of these styles done with button-on styling. Buster Brown suits were also dobe with button-styling. We see the suits donr for pre-school boys up to about 10-years of age. Generally speaking, the sailor suits were done in sizes to about 8-years of age. There were both summer and winter suits.

Age

We see many boys wearing button-on sailor suits. This was a style for younger boys. We see the suits done for pre-school boys up to about 10-years of age. Generally speaking, the sailor suits were done in sizes to about 8-years of age. The boys here look to be about 4-9 years old. The two boys wearing button-on sailor suits look to be about 4-7 years old (figure 1). By about age 9 years, nother had decided on a more mature lapel Norfolk jacket. We rarely see boys over 10-years old wearing these button-on sailor suits. Both the the button-on styling and the sailor suit were see as outfits for younger boys. We see sone slightly older boys wering sailor suits in the 19th century, but not by the 20th century. Most of the boys we see wearing these outfits are in the 3-8 year range.

Utility

It was also a way of holding up the pants, a problem which had to be solved for younger boys. As younger boys do not have defined waists. Some method of holding up pants is required. This could be accomplished through stocking supporters, suspenders, and button-on clothing. We rarely see belts.

Garments

The garments involved were blouses and pants. The blouses did not blouse out at the waists because there were no draw strings. They were all blouses as they did not have shirt tails. The pants were more varied. We see knee pants, knickers, short pants, and long pants. They were mostly done with knee pants in the 1910s and early-20s. , After that we see short onts and knickers. Long pants were less common, but we see some. This was not an exclusively American style, but the style seems more popular in American than any other country. This was a major style for boys. We see suspenders mpre commonly used in Europe. Suspenders were also used in America, but were not neatly as common for younger boys in America and were not used for sailor suits. The buttons were commonly used in the styling, but even if large white front buttons are not used, the styling is obvious because the blouses do not blouse out.

Chronology

We believe that these button-on sailor suits primarily appeared during the 1910s. We are, however, still working on the precise chronology. Button-on styling itself did nor originate in the 1910s. Actually the first dedicted boy's outfit was the button-on skeleton suit in the late-18th century. This was, however, before the sailor suit appeared for boys. We also see button on suits in the 1860s, but on a lot of button-on sailor suits. Sailor blouses which bloused out using waist draw cords seem particularly popular for sailor suits. We are just befinning to collect information on them. The image here is a good example (figure 1).

Prevalence

These outfits were very common for younger boys. We see large numbers of these button-on suits.

Other Buttoon-on Outfits

Sailor suits were just one of these styles done with button-on styling. Buster Brown suits were also done with button-styling.

Seasonality

There were both summer and winter suits. The boys here are wearing heavy wool suits.

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Created: 12:36 PM 10/13/2015
Last updated: 12:53 AM 2/12/2018