Figure 1.--This is a glass magic lantern slide showing what is being depcted as village kids playing. The studio provides a village backdrop. The boys are more likely city boys. We have no idea how they were recruited for the photograph, but it would have been done by a company selling the slides. We believe this is part of a series of slides telling a story, a Victorian story set. The boys are mostly wearing caps amd stuits. They are all wearing knee pants, mostly with long stockings and high-top shoes. The slide has been colorizes. We are not sure about the accuracy, but the colors are generally consisted with the colors worn by boys at the time.

We have considerable information on Englisg children's wear in the 1890s. Headwear continued to be important. We mostly see school-age boys wearing caps. Peaked caps were standard, but not universal. Younger and older boys more commonly wore headwear (caps and hats). Skirted garments were important, including for younger boys. we mostly see girls wearing dresses. This could be because most of the phiotographs, was studio photography. We have little informattion on blouses and skirts. We mostly see dresses. Suits were common for both ordinary and school wear as well as dressing up. Boys might have one suit for best and anolder suit for everydaywear. Younger boys wore destinctive styles like Fauntleroy suits and sailor suits. Stangely, sailor suits were not as common. Lapel sack suits were becoming standard. We still see some collar-buttoning jackets. Knee pants were standard for boys. We see some knickers, epecailly at some boarding schools. Long stockings were still common. High-top shoes were common, although not nearly universal as in America. We also have some information on 1890s families. Family information is useful because we not only see the boys, but other members of the family as well as some context concerning the family condition. These family images tend to be more affluent families. We still see mostly formally dressed children from studio portraits in the 1890s. One wonderful exception are the phoptographs takem by Francis Meadow Sutcliffe in the Yorkshire seaside port of Whitby. He took photographs outside the studio, aided by advances in cameras and photographic materials. Among his body of work are several images of ordinary working-class children. The boys wear suits, mostly with caps. Boys at the time did mot have wardrones of casual clothing. Quite a number are barefoot.

Garments

We have considerable information on English children's wear in the 1890s. Headwear continued to be important. We mostly see school-age boys wearing caps. Peaked caps were standard, but not universal. Younger and older boys more commonly wore headwear (caps and hats). Skirted garments were important, including for younger boys. we mostly see girls wearing dresses. This could be because most of the phiotographs, was studio photography. We have little informattion on blouses and skirts. We mostly see dresses. Suits were common for both ordinary and school wear as well as dressing up. Boys might have one suit for best and anolder suit for everydaywear. Younger boys wore destinctive styles like Fauntleroy suits and sailor suits. Stangely, sailor suits were not as common. Lapel sack suits were becoming standard. We still see some collar-buttoning jackets. Knee pants were standard for boys. We see some knickers, epecailly at some boarding schools. Long stockings were still common. High-top shoes were common, although not nearly universal as in America.

Families

We also have some information on1890s families. Family information is useful because we not only see the boys, but other members of the family as well as some context concerning the family condition. These family images tend to be more affluent families.

Photographers

We still see mostly formally dressed children from studio portraits in the 1890s. One wonderful exception are the phoptographs takem by Francis Meadow Sutcliffe in the Yorkshire seaside port of Whitby. He took photographs outside the studio, aided by advances in cameras and photographic materials. Among his body of work are several images of ordinary working-class children. The boys wear suits, mostly with caps. Boys at the time did mot have wardrones of casual clothing. Quite a number are barefoot.

Created: 11:04 AM 5/31/2019
Last updated: 11:04 AM 5/31/2019