Figure 1.--This American boy was dressed up for the beach in 1909--notice the pail. The postcard-back portrait was taken at a very inexpensive studio, presumably on the boardwalk, m perhaps Coney Island. It was mailed from Brooklyn on May 31. The water would have vstill been chilly. A white sailor suit was a summer style. The vimage shows how families of modest circumstance dressed up for the beach before World War I.

HBC notes that the clothing associated with seaside outings is not only bathing costumes, but also clothing worn at the resorts and for beach play. While when thinking about the beach, today we mostly think about swimsuits. This was not always the case. Many people who went to the beach and seaside rexorts did not enter the water beyond paddling. Little children were more interested in pkating in the sand and perhaps getting their toes wet with their parents. Also many people want to look smart in suits and dresses while walking on the boardwalk or engaging in activities in resort hotels. While the people booking hotels were mostly the well-to-do, many people of modest incomes enjoyed the board walk and all the activities to be had there. There were also some piers, although they were not as common as in Britain. We have a good dedal of information on what the children wore because most mothers wanted a portrait taken of the children all dressed up in their beachwear. Here one of the most important outfits were sailor suits. After World war I, beachwear became much more casual. Drsssing up rapidly went out of style. Comefort became incrwasingly important as clothing styles became increasingly casual.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Pinafores]

Created: 9:06 PM 2/6/2010
9:06 PM 2/6/20107:57 PM 2/6/2010