Figure 1.--Charles R. Hall was photographed in Lewiston, Maine, probably in the early 1880s. He wears long, perfectly done ringlet curls and a kiltsuit with sailior styling. Notice the buttoning arrangement. The functionality of the buttons is discussed here. Image courtesy of the RG Collection.

Charles wears a kiltsuit with nautical styling. Notice how the blouse jacket matches the kilt suit in color, material and styling. One incongruity is the buttoning. Notice the single row of buttons ion the blouse jacket, but double row on the kilt skirt. Often the buttoning on the outfits matched. It looks like Charles had worn this suit for some time and had rather grown out of it. Note how how far up his arms the sleeve goes. For some reason, there are two stripes on the blouse and three on the kilt skirt. I am not sure about the pants. A HBC reader comments, "One point you might have overlooked is the skirt worn with the outfit. When I looked at your blowup of the cap I noticed that the skirt is not a normal style, i.e., buttoning at the waist, but wraps around and buttons all the way down the front. The buttons on the front and left side are functional as well as decorative. Except for the buttons it looks similar to a girls wrap around kilt." HBC is unsure about the buttoning. We note in fact that one button is missing in the left row. We also note that one button in each row is placed on the striping detail work. HBC is not, however, convinced that the buttons were functional. An examination of the images suggests to HBC that the buttons on the blouse jackets are functional, notice that part of the horizontal button holes can be seen. One the kilt skirt, however, the buttons do not appear to HBC to be functional. We do not see the slightest indication of any button holes. The fact that they buttons are sewn on to the striping is further evidence of this. The button holes would be very visible here if they existed. Interestingly the buttons in the kilt skirt are different than those on the blouse. In addition, twp different kinds of buttons are used on the kilt skirt itself. HBC is unsure just how these kilt skirts were put on and held in place. One method of course was the use of a bodice kilt skirt--which was especially suited for a blouse or blouced jacket. There is no way of telling if this was the case here. We notice that this double row of buttons was quite popular with kilksuits and often worn with matching double breasted suit coats.

Created: April 20, 2002
Last updated: April 20, 2002