Figure 1.--This French post card was made in the early 1910s and shows one of many styles of Fauntleroy suits we see in period postcards. Less clear is to what extent boys actually wore these outfits. For a discussion of this style, click on the image. I'm not sure what the greeting on the card is.

Velvet suits for boys were popular in France in the 1870s. We notice both plain and fancy suits. I'm not sure when the style first appeared. Fancy French suits for boys were in fact the inspiration for the famous garment for the litterary hero, Little Lord Fauntleroy. The authoress, Frances Hodgsen Burnett, lived in France for a short period before and after her marriage (1870s). This was before she wrote the famous book for her two young children. The large bows that American boys wore with their suits, however, were not nearly as popular in France. HBC at this time has only limited chronological data on the development of the Fauntleroy suit in France. We do have, however, information on the French Faunrleroy suit in the early 20th century. At the time they were being worn bu boys about 3-6 years of age, earlier a somewhat older boy might have worn them.

The 1870s

Velvet suits for boys were popular in Franmce in the 1870s. We notice both plain and fancy suits. We notice George Feydeau as a 8-year old boy wearing a plain black velvet suit with color provided by a light blue bow (1870). We are not sure when the style first appeared. Fancy French suits for boys were in fact the inspiration for the famous garment for the litterary hero, Little Lord Fauntleroy. The authoress, Frances Hodgsen Burnett, lived in France for a short period before and after her marriage (1870s).

The 1880s

The Burnetts time in Paris was before she wrote the famous book for her two young children (1885). The large bows that American boys wore with their suits, however, were not nearly as popular in France. HBC at this time has only limited chronological data on the development of the Fauntleroy suit in France.

The 1890s

The primary color for French Fauntleroy suits seems to be black. That was the way Gaughuin painted the portrait of a Breton friend's son Louis about 1890. We also notice the Faydouu children. The boy wears a dark blue velvet Fauntleroy suit (1898).

The 1900s

We do have, however, information on the French Faunrleroy suit in the early 20th century. At the time they were being worn by boys about 3-6 years of age, earlier a somewhat older boy might have worn them.

The 1930s

We note French boys wearing fancy blouses with short pants in the 1930s. The blouses might have wide or fancy collars. Often they had baloon sleeves. Many were worn without jackets, but we see some images with cut-away jackets. The short pants were commonkly cut much shorter than were common in the 1920s. These outfits were nore common with families living in comfortabke circumstances. We do not think that they were commonly called Little Lord Fauntleroy suits as the term was rather dated by the 1930s. A French reader uses the term garçons modèles. The outfits wee commonly wiorn wuth white siocks, including knee socks, and ankle socks, and strap shoes. Hair styles could vary.

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Created: November 18, 2001
Last updated: 3:11 AM 6/14/2013