Figure 1.--These two German brothers both wear sailor suits, but there are many variations in their outfits reflecting the differences in their ages. Image courtesy of the German Hosiery Museum. |
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We do not know who these German childern were, nor do we know where in Germany the photograph was taken. Presumably they are siblings in the same family. We do not know if the baby was a brother or sister. The photograph was taken about 1925. These two German brothers both wear sailor suits, but there are many variations in their outfits reflecting the differences in their ages. The middy blouse and short pants are similar, but the rest of their outfits are different.
We do not know who these German childern were.
We know the boys are German, but do not know where in Germany the photograph was taken.
Presumably they are siblings in the same family. We do not know if the baby was a brother or sister. The two brothers have a considerable age gap. The younger brother looks to be out 5-6 years old. The older brother looks to be about 12-13 years old.
The photograph was taken about 1925. We are not sure if this is an approximation or an actual date.
These two German brothers both wear sailor suits, but there are many variations in their outfits reflecting the differences in their ages. The middy blouse and short pants are similar, but the rest of their outfits are different.
The boys wear different cap styles. The older boy has a military styled peaked cap. I'm not sure if this was a cap that his mother bought for him to go with the sailor suit or some kind of student cap associated with his school. His younger brother wears a standard German sailor cap made in the style of the German navy. I can't make out the writing on the cap tally (band). The peaked cap is a style that would normally be worn by an older boy, although I am not possitive about the conventions.
The middy blouses look quite similar, although different colors. The older boy wears a colored middy blouse, probably light blue. The younger boy has a white middy blouse. This is not an age associatd difference.
It was common for boys this age to wear sort pants. The difference in color is not an age associated matter. While the image is not clear, it looks like the younger boy is wearing button-on shorts. This is a style associated with younger boys.
The older boy is weaing kneesocks. This was common for German boys, even boys older than the older brother here. The younger boy wears long stockings. These were still commonly worn in Germany although declining in popularity as boys were increasingly wearing kneesocks. This was especially the case for older boys. Most boys by the time they were 12-13 years old were no longer wearing long stockings. While we note many images of primary school age German boys wearing long stockings during the 1920s, we note very few wearing white long stockings.
Both boys wear low cut shoes. The older boys wears dark leather oxfords. The younger boy wears hite strap shoe. This was another style appropriate for younger boys.
The children also have age-differentiated hair styles. The older brother has a short hair cut. His younger brother has curls.
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