Figure 1.--This CDV portrait is unidentified. All we know is that the boy is American. We believe the portrait was taken in the early 1870s. (The fact that there is no studio logos is an indicator that it is an 1860s or early 70s portrait.) I am not sure how to classify this suit, but note the many elements of military styling. Also note the matching tam that the boy is holding. It has a colored pom. I'm not sure about the color, but would guess that it was red. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.Image courtesy of the PH collection.

Some suits came with matching headwear. Most did not, but matching headwear was seen as stylish and mothers might purchase headwear seem as matching. We haven't seen matching hats, but they could be mstched in color if not in fabric. And of course sailot hats could be won with sailor suits. we have seen matcing caps in various styles. Caps could be matched with both the same material and color as the suit. We notice some 19th century suits for younger boys with matching caps of various styles. Tams seem to have been popular. We also see Glengaries, but there were many other styles. Normally boys did not wear their caps for formal portraits. Thus our information is limited. Some boys did wear their caps and in many other cases the caps and other headwear were placed in the portrait. We suspect that this was especially common if it was a matching suit cap. Notice the boy here holding a matching tam (figure 1). We also see matching caps in the 20th century. A matching peaked cap worn with an Eton or other styled suit was popular during the mid-20th century. A suit with a matching cap seems especially popular with affluent families.

Matching Headwear

Some boys' suits came with matching headwear. Most did not, but matching headwear was seen as stylish and mothers might purchase headwear seem as matching. This could include both hats and caps. Caps seem the most common. We haven't seen matching hats very commonly, but they could be matched in color if not in fabric. And of course sailot hats could be won with sailor suits. we have seen matcing caps in various styles. Caps could be matched with both the same material and color as the suit. We notice some 19th century suits for younger boys with matching caps of various styles. Tams seem to have been popular. We also see Glengaries, but there were many other styles. We notice some 19th century suits for younger boys with matching caps of various styles. Tams seem to have been popular. We also see Glengaries, but there were many other styles that were made to match boy's suits. We also see some done in the 20th century, but a more narrow range of styles. We also see matching caps in the 20th century. A matching peaked cap worn with an Eton or other styled suit was popular during the mid-20th century, here the flat or peaked camp was ofen used.

Non-matching Headwear

Boys wore both caps and hats with suits. Normally it was caps that were made to match suits. Hats were worn with suits, but they normally did nit match. Non-matching caps came in an even wider sortment of styles than matching caps.

Photographic Evidence

Normally boys did not wear their caps for formal portraits. Thus our information is limited. Some boys did wear their caps and in many other cases the caps and other headwear are placed in the portrait. We suspect that this was especially common if it was a matching suit cap. Notice the boy here holding a matching tam (figure 1).

Chronology

We see a range of caps and hats worn with suits in both the 19th and 20th centuries. The convention of wearing headwear was very pronounced in the 19th century. Headwear was seen as an important part of an outfit. This was still common in the early 20th century, but became much less common in the second half of the century. There was quite a range of headwear worn with suits in the 19th century. A matching peaked cap worn with an Eton or other styled suit was popular during the mid-20th century.

Age

The same age convention associated with caps and hats also affected the headwear worn with suits.

Social Class

A suit with a matching cap seems especially popular with affluent families. This was presumably at least partially the result of the increased cost. And afflunt families were presumably the most likely to persist with formality.

Created: 9:33 PM 1/30/2006
Last updated: 7:25 PM 10/3/2009