Figure 1.--Here is a studio portrit of three boys, certainly brothers, from Karlsruhe, Germany. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1880s. The boys are dressed in identical velvet suits, except for the collars. The younger boys wear lace collars. The older boys has a plain hite collar looking somewhat similar to an Eton collar. Image courtesy of the BP Collection. Click on the image for a fuller discussion of the portrait.

We do not know much about German suit material yet. The material often affected seasonal wear. Also because the material was a major factor in cost, it had social class connotations. Flannel was very important in Britain. We are less sure about Germany. In the late 19th and early 20th century corduroy was an imporant matwrial for inexpensive suits worn by working-class boys. Younger children from afflient families might have velvet suit. Serge was used for heavy winter suits.

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Created: 8:06 PM 8/24/2006
Last updated: 8:06 PM 8/24/2006