Figure 1.--In sharp contrast to the image od the street boys on the previous page, this commercial postcard was a senically poised postcard of Algiers showing two youth in fancy outfits. The boy wears a scull cap with a cebter tassle, short bolero jacket, and we think baggy trousers. The girl's outfit is a little difficult to make out. We think she is wearing a short white dress-like tunic over redish baggy trousers that have goldish glitter woven into the fabric. The dealer dated the postcard to 1899. We are not sure about that, but the early-20th century seems reasonable. Click on the image for a close-up of the outfits.

We have some limited information on tradutional Algerian garments. We note Algerian boys wearing fezes, robe-like garments, baggy trousers, and other Arab traditional garments. As far as we can tell these are primarily generalized Arab/Bedouine styles. We are not sure to what extent the garments are Arab in origin or reflect influences of pre-Islamic Bedouin tribes. This varies from garment to garment. There probably were some localized Bedoune styles, but we do not yet have enough information to report on this. Headwear actually seems varied. We note a range of scull caps as well as turban-like headwear such as we see on the previous page. Fezes were also worn. The most common garment seems to be a calf-length robe-like garments. We believe it dates to the middle ages, but are not sure what the garment is called. We also notice baggy trousers. Algeria since the collapse of the Roman Empire has been a very poor country. Many Algerian boys went barefoot, especially boys living outside the major cities. This was common throughout the Arab Muslim world and was basically a reflection of poverty.

Origins

We have some limited information on tradutional Algerian garments. We note Algerian boys wearing fezes, robe-like garments, baggy trousers, and other Arab traditional garments. As far as we can tell these are primarily generalized Arab/Bedouine styles. We are not sure to what extent the garments are Arab in origin or reflect influences of pre-Islamic Bedouin tribes. This varies from garment to garment. There probably were some localized Bedoune styles, but we do niot yet have enough information to report on this.

Headwear

Headwear actually seems varied. We note a range of scull caps as well as turban-like headwear such as we see on the previous page. Fezes were also worn. Here we see a scull cap with a tassle afixed to the crown of the cap. It looks klike a green tassle. As with the fezes, red seems to have been a pooular color.

Tunic/Robe

The most common garment seems to be a calf-length tunic or robe-like garments. We believe it dates to the middle ages, but are not sure what the garment is called. These could be very fancy or plain. This is what the boys on the previous page are wearing, very plain examples.

Short Jackets

We note quite a few images of Algerian and other Arab boys wearing short jackets when dressing up. This could gave been an Ottomn infkuence, but we are not sure. We toay might call them bolero jackets, a Spanish term. We have been wondering about the origins of the bolero jscket. It may well be thst the bolero jacket is a Moorish inspired styled. Areas of the Iberian Peninsula were occupied by the Moors for 8 centuries, for a time almost the whole peninsula. The Moors that invaded Spain came fro mOrocco, bit there would hve been considerable similarity between Algeriab anMoriccan styles. In Algeria we see both jackets with and without sleeves. The boy here is wearing a short jakets with sleeves (figure 1). Red seems to have been a popular color. We also notice girls and women wearing these jackets. We have been unable to find what these jackets were called. As far as we can tell ghey are no longer common components of Arab dress.

Baggy Trousers

We also notice baggy trousers being worn in Algeria. This seems to be a dressy garment worn by men and women. The vboy here wears baggy white trousers (figure 1).

Hosiery

We know birtually nothing about hosiety. We do note thayt the girl here is wearing long striped trousers (figurere 1). Perhsps better described as narrow colored bands rather than stripes.

Footwear

lgeria since the collapse of the Roman Empire has been a very poor country. Many Algerian boys went barefoot, especially boys living outside the major cities. This was common throughout the Arab Muslim world and was basically a reflection of poverty. Interestingly, the boy here although dressed up for the portrait is barefoot.

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Created: 6:14 PM 5/24/2018
Last updated: 6:14 PM 5/24/2018