Figure 1.-- This CDV portrait shows an unidentified English boy riding a photographic studio hobby horse. He looks to beabout 4 years old. Notice the top curls. He wears a fancy velvet knee pants suit with extensive decoration. He has hite long tockings with what look like patent leather shoes. The portrait is dated 1873-74. The studio was J. Harrison Of Leeds.

Some materials were commonly used for juvenile boys outfits, much as denim is very popular for children;s clothing today. Velvet and corduroy were two such materials. Velvet was very popular for boys suits in the late-19th century. The Fauntlerouy suit is perhaps the most famous, but we see boys wearingg velvet suit before the appearance of Fauntleroy suits (1885). They were very common in the 1870s and often highly decorated eith piping stripes abd other detiling. True velvet is an expenive material and thus velvet suits were most common for noys from well-to-do families. No other suiting material was seen as so luxurious as velvet. It was used arim on adult suits, but men's suits were not done in velvet. We notice quite a few examples in the photographic record. Corduroy was another popular material for boys. Corduroy was a very commonmaterial for suits worn by school-age boys. It was, howeve, a more modestly priced material. Thus it was very common for working-class boys. It was especilly known for being hard wearing, important in boys' clothing.

Created: 6:55 AM 6/21/2015
Last updated: 6:55 AM 6/21/2015