National Little Lord Fauntleroy Suits: Individual Countries

Figure 1.--These American brothers from Cattleburg, Kansas wear Fauntleroy outfits with huge ruffled collars in the 1890s. The Fauntleroy suits was originally adopted by affluent families, but gradually moderate-income families, like the mother of these boys, adopted the style set by the upperclasses.

North America both America and Canada basically followed European trend since the Euroeans began founding colonies (17th century). Both women and men closely followed European fashion trends. Then all of a sudden, the United States launched a major fashion trend. It was surprising new style and only for boys--the Fauntleroy Craze. It was an era of formality in dress, but the Fauntlery syle was an extreme in fashion--especially for boys. The original inspiration for fancy suits for younger boys was France where Mrs. Burnett who was English and moved to America as a youth lived for a few years. The style began in the late-19th century with the publication of Mrs. Burnett's book and continued into the early 20th century. No where was the Fauntleroy Craze so popular, but it spread to Brtain another European countries. Quite a number of boys wore formal velvet Fauntleroy suits, but many more boys wore less expensive suits with large lace or ruffled collars. American boys generally wore Fauntleroy suits with wide-brimmed sailor hats. Other head gear was worn, but was not nearly as popular as in Europe. Someboys wore their Fauntleroy suits with long ringlet curls. Most of the American boys with long hair wore ringlets. I was not common for boys to have long uncurled hair. One of the most destinctive elements of the American Fauntleroy suit was that it was worn with large, carefully tied bows. Most boys wore large bows to match the large collars. Almost all Fauntleroy suits, except for kilt suits, were worn with knee pants. Unlike England. knicker Fauntleroy suits were rare. The American Fauntleroy suit was often worn with heavy high top shoes that looked like boots. The patent leather pumps and buckle shoes worn in England were much less common in America. We notice Canadia boys wearing Fauntleroy velvet suits in the late-19th century. This was a very popular style, both in North America and Europe. As far as we can tell the stles and chronology as well as the conventions involved were very similar to those in the United States, although our archive of Canadian images is still quite limited. We note the same styles and trim such as lace collars and floppy bows. Boys seem to have worn Fauntleroy suits from about 3-8 years of age, but we note some older boys as well. .

America

No where was the Fauntleroy suit more popular than in America. The original inspiration for fancy suits for younger boys was France where Mrs. Burnett who was English and moved to America as a youth lived for a few years. The style began in the late-19th century with the publication of Mrs. Burnett's book and continued into the early 20th century. No where was the Fauntleroy Craze so popular, but it spread to Brtain another European countries.Quite a number of boys wore formal velvet Fauntleroy suits, but many more boys wore less expensive suits with large lace or ruffled collars. American boys generally wore Fauntleroy suits with wide-brimmed sailor hats. Other head gear was worn, but was not nearly as popular as in Europe. Someboys wore their Fauntleroy suits with long ringlet curls. Most of the American boys with long hair wore ringlets. I was not common for boys to have long uncurled hair. One of the most destinctive elements of the American Fauntleroy suit was that it was worn with large, carefully tied bows. Most boys wore large bows to match the large collars. Almost all Fauntleroy suits, except for kilt suits, were worn with knee pants. Unlike England. knicker Fauntleroy suits were rare. The American Fauntleroy suit was often worn with heavy high top shoes that looked like boots. The patent leather pumps and buckle shoes worn in England were much less common in America.

Figure 2.--Canadian boys wore Fauntleroy suits styled similarly to those worn by American boys. Ringlet curls, however, were not as common. Note the wide-brimmed sailor hat.

Canada

We notice Canadia boys wearing Fauntleroy velvet suits in the late-19th century. This was a very popular style, both in North America and Europe. As far as we can tell the stles and chronology as well as the conventions involved were very similar to those in the United States, although our archive of Canadian images is still quite limited. We note the same styles and trim such as lace collars and floppy bows. Boys seem to have worn Fauntleroy suits from about 3-8 years of age, but we note some older boys as well. We are unsure if there were differences among the English and French community concerning the styles and wearing of Fauntleroy suits. Many Fauntleroy suits were back velvet, but we notice other colors of velvet and other material as well. We note a burgandy Fauntleroy suit that a Canadian boy wore for a wedding in 1896.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing other related pages:
[Dresses] [Breeching] [Kilts] [Smocks] [Pinafores] [Sailor Hats] [Blouses]
[Ring Bearers] [Long hair] [Ringlet curls] [Hair bows] [Bangs] [Collars] [Bows]

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 12:20 AM 5/17/2023
Last updated: 12:20 AM 5/17/2023