Figure 1.-- Herecwe have a charming group of 10 children. Were not sure about thererelatonship, perhaps a Sunday school group. They are posed outdoors in a grassy paddock. Because of the otdoor settig we fet to see their headwear. It was still common for afults and children to wear headwear. We see straw boaters and wide-brimmed hats. he girlsarewearing pinasfores. The portrait image includes both boys and girls, standing and seated in a relaxed yet formal composition. The cabinert card has no studuoinfomtion on he front. but an oval stamp identified thestydio: '“Green, Photographer, High Street, Witney & High St. Eynsham'. THe portrit is undted, but looks like the 1890s. The children’s dress—including pinafores, Eton collars, and wide-brimmed straw hats—provides a wonderful study period fasgion.

We see wide range of headwear in the 1890s. Some styles were gender exclsive. Others could be worn by both boys and girls, esecially younger boys, but girls of a wider age range. Age was also a factor. The portrait here shows a range of styles (figure 1). Girls hats could be quite elaborately decorative. Younger girls might wear bonnets. Both girls and youngr boys might wear wide-brimmed hats. These hats for boys werRe pLain. GIrls might also wear plain-wide bmmed hats, butmany were highly decorated. We see both boys and girls wearing boaters. Tams becane poplar for girls. Headwear was very common in the 19th and early-20th century. Well dressed people wore headwear and this included all social classses. We see a lot of the same styles in America during the 19th century as most styles were set in Europe, but more differences in the 20th century as the Aamerican econmy began to generate styles of its own.

Created: 1:18 AM 9/6/2025
Last updated: 1:18 AM 9/6/2025