Figure 1.--This family snapshot was was taken during in 1915 in Castel d'Ario, a village in northern Italy, about 150 kms East of Milan. Tazio Nuvolari, the well-known Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, was born here in 1892. We are not sure about the relationship of the individuals, but they were presumably family members. The older boy on the left side is wearing the typical Italian peasant clothing of the 19th century which was still common in rural areas during the early-20th century. This included a hat, long sleeves shirt, vest, long trousers, and bare feet. The other boys are dressed more fashionably, at least as fashionably as poorer familird could manage. Two of the younger boys seem to be wearing tunics. The boy in the center, wears a fashionable sailor outfit. He is the only child with shoes. He also wears more of a cool weather outfit with long pants although it does not seem to be a chilly day.

Italy was finally unified for the first time since the Roman Empire (1860s). The new Italian Kingdom became one of the larger European counties in trrms of population. Economically, however, it was rather a poor country. The rural south including Sicily was largely agricultural, socially virtually feudal. It is at this time that extensive emigration began, much of it to the United States. The primary generator of this population movement was poverty, especially rural poverty. Emigration from increasingly prosperous northern Italy was much more limited. The clothing styles of the 1900s continued into the 1910s. We continue to see significant social class differences, but this was beginning to change. The typical Italian peasant clothing in rural areas that was so common in the 19th century was still seen, but becoming less common. The photograph here is a good example of rhe changing styles (figure 1). Peasant dress entailed an often non-descript hat with a wide brim, long sleeve shirt, vest, long trousers, and bare feet. This was a rather destinctive style. The urban poor dressed differently, kind of mix between rural dress abd urban dress. Only many of the families could not afford to dress the children fashionably. Two of the younger boys here seem to be wearing basic tunics. Shorter cut pants were much more common in urban areas. One common factor was footwear. Shoes are expensive. As a result, both urban and rural poor children commonly went barefoot. The warm climate of southern Italy meant that children could go barefoot year round. Middle class boys in the cities, especially the industrial north, dressed in more fashionalble clothing similar to those worn in other European countries, especially France and Germany. Unlike the rural peasantry, these were not a destinctly Itlalian style. Sailor suits continued to be a popular style. Knee pants had become standard wear in the cities and were evolving into short pants. Unlile Anerica, knickers were not so common. In some families older boys meaning mostly teenagers might wear knickers. This was a trend that became more motable in the 1920s. Italy entered World War I on the Allied side despite pre-War alliances with the Central Powers (1915). The Allies offered substantial territorial enducements abnd financial support. Italy was, however, not prepared for war and the fighting did not go well. It adversely affected the economic situation and this in turn affected the economic situation of the population. Thus the ability of the population to purchase clothing, especially fashionable clothing, was affected. The situation was not as severe as the World War II disaster where combat raged up the entire Peninsula, but it was still serious, albeit combat was confined to the north. Because of the War One impact of the War is that emigration fell off because of the German U-boat threat.

Economy

Italy was finally unified for the first time since the Roman Empire (1860s). The new Italian Kingdom became one of the larger European counties in trrms of population. Economically, however, it was rather a poor country. The rural south including Sicily was largely agricultural, socially virtually feudal. It is at this time that extensive emigration began, much of it to the United States. The primary generator of this population movement was poverty, especially rural poverty. Emigration from increasingly prosperous northern Italy was much more limited.

Clothing Styles

The clothing styles of the 1900s continued into the 1910s. We continue to see significant social class differences, but this was beginning to change. The typical Italian peasant clothing in rural areas that was so common in the 19th century was still seen, but becoming less common. The photograph here is a good example of rhe changing styles (figure 1). Peasant dress entailed an often non-descript hat with a wide brim, long sleeve shirt, vest, long trousers, and bare feet. This was a rather destinctive style. The urban poor dressed differently, kind of mix between rural dress abd urban dress. Only many of the families could not afford to dress the children fashionably. Two of the younger boys here seem to be wearing basic tunics. Shorter cut pants were much more common in urban areas. One common factor was footwear. Shoes are expensive. As a result, both urban and rural poor children commonly went barefoot. The warm climate of southern Italy meant that children could go barefoot year round. Middle class boys in the cities, especially the industrial north, dressed in more fashionalble clothing similar to those worn in other European countries, especially France and Germany. Unlike the rural peasantry, these were not a destinctly Itlalian style. Sailor suits continued to be a popular style. Knee pants had become standard wear in the cities and were evolving into short pants. Unlile Anerica, knickers were not so common. In some families older boys meaning mostly teenagers might wear knickers. This was a trend that became more motable in the 1920s.

World War I

Italy entered World War I on the Allied side despite pre-War alliances with the Central Powers (1915). The Allies offered substantial territorial enducements abnd financial support. Italy was, however, not prepared for war and the fighting did not go well. It adversely affected the economic situation and this in turn affected the economic situation of the population. Thus the ability of the population to purchase clothing, especially fashionable clothing, was affected. The situation was not as severe as the World War II disaster where combat raged up the entire Peninsula, but it was still serious, albeit combat was confined to the north. Because of the War One impact of the War is that emigration fell off because of the German U-boat threat.

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Created: 8:20 PM 6/23/2013
Last updated: 2:42 PM 7/30/2020