Figure 1.-- This photograph was taken about 1910. We are not sure though if it was taken in Mexico or the American Southwest. One boy wears the characteristic Mexican campesino clothing: white-brimmed straw hate, white shirt, and white pants. The other boy wears a blouse, a popular boy's garment at the time. Source: Library of Congress LC-USZ62-99677.

Mexican boys clothes have traditionally varied greatly by social class. Rich boys from largely European families wore the same clothes styles as worn in Europe. I assume that the most influential European country was of course Spain as Mexico was a Spanish colony until the early 19th Century. Other European countries by the mid 19th Century, such as France and England, were also influential. Thus little boys wore dresses and older boys wore tunics, Fauntleroy suits, sailor suits, knickers, Eton collars, and other popular styles of the day. I know of no popular indigenous Mexican garment or style worn by the wealthy boys. Poor Mexican boys have traditionally worn a white shirt and white pants, often at calf length and simple sandals without socks. I am not sure just when this dress became common place, but it was widely worn in the 19th Century and probably earlier. Poor Mexican boys have traditionally worn a white shirt and white pants, often at ankel/calf length and simple sandals without socks. Many children went barefoot. I am not sure just when this dress became common place, but it was widely worn in the 19th Century and probably earlier.

Rich Children

Rich boys from largely European families wore the same clothes styles as worn in Europe. I assume that the most influential European country was of course Spain as Mexico was a Spanish colony until the early 19th Century. Other European countries by the mid 19th Century, such as France and England, were also influential. Thus little boys wore dresses and older boys wore tunics, Fauntleroy suits, sailor suits, knickers, Eton collars, and other popular styles of the day. I know of no popular indigenous Mexican garment or style worn by the wealthy boys. Poor Mexican boys have traditionally worn a white shirt and white pants, often at calf length and simple sandals without socks. I am not sure just when this dress became common place, but it was widely worn in the 19th Century and probably earlier.

Poor Children

Poor Mexican boys have traditionally worn a white shirt and white pants, often at ankel/calf length and simple sandals without socks. This was not a specifically boy's outfit. Adult men in rural areas also dressed this way. Many children went barefoot. I am not sure just when this dress became common place, but it was widely worn in the 19th Century and probably earlier. The photographic record shows large numbers of boys wearing this outfit with considerable variation. Wide brimmed straw hats were also common. I thin this was common because it was the most inexpensive clothes available. We are not sure what this outfit is called in Mexico. But something like peon or compansino clothing might be a reasonable term.

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Created: 8:35 PM 11/20/2008
Last updated: 8:35 PM 11/20/2008