Figure 1.--We are not positive, but we thought this was a Bulgaroan boy, probably in the 1920s. There is a rubberstamp on the back with cyrillic characters. A reader, however, tells us, "I think it says Beograd on the back, which I believe was in Serbia at the time, not Bulgaria." Click on the image to see the back.

We do not have much information from Bulgaria until the late 19th century. Bulgaria in the 19th century was one of the most backward areas of Europe, in part because of the control by the Turks and the disorders accompanying the Balkan Wars and the struggle for independemce. Turkish fashions were important because Bulgaria did not gain its independence until the late 19th century. Thus Bulgarian boys, especially rural boys, still commonly wore what would now be called folk dress. The eliete in the 19th century basically followed European, especially French fashions. I think most well-to-do families probably subscribed to French fashion magazines. Bulgarian boys in the early 20th century still commonly dressed in traditional styles. The exception was the relativeky small urban population which adopted Western fashions. This dichotomy gradually changed duting the iter-War era. And after World War II, traditional dressm evcen in the countryside largely disappeared. We do not have much information on the post-War era. Bulgarian boys by the time the Communist era ended was similar to that of the rest of Europe, although generally low incomde levels affect fashion. Modern Bulgarian boys dress in the current pan-European fashion.

19th Century

Bulgaria in the 19th century was one of the most backward areas of Europe, in part because of the control by the Turks and the disorders accompanying the Balkan Wars and the struggle for independemce. Turkish fashions were important because Bulgaria did not gain its independence until the late 19th century. Thus Bulgarian boys, especially rural boys, still commonly wore what would now be called folk dress. The eliete in the 19th century basically followed European, especially French fashions. I think most well-to-do families probably subscribed to French fashion magazines. In fact in Eastern Europe and Russia most conversation at upper class social gathering was in French. Speaking in ones native language at high-society social functions might have been considered vulgar. This image shows that younger boys still might wear long hair and hair bows in the 1910 even though this fashion was declining in France and many other European countries. Some might think the child on this page is a girl because of the long hair and hair bow. However, the child is no wearing a dress, but a tunic and is wearing kneepants. It is unlikely that a girtl would have worn kneepants. Also notice the the horse. I don't think a girl would be as likely to have been photographed to mount her horse to ride into an imaginary battle.

20th Century

Bulgarian remained a poor country throughout the 20th century. This invaiavly affects fashion trends because it determines family purchases of clothing. Some economic improvement occurred during the early-20 century. Bulgarian boys in the early-20th century still commonly dressed in traditional styles. The exception was the relatively small urban population which adopted Western fashions. Becuse of Bulgaria's German monarchy and large German fashion industry, we note a German influence. This dichotomy between the cities and rural areas gradually changed during the inter-War era. And after World War II, traditional dress, even in the countryside largely disappeared. The Communist industrializtion effort was a factor here. We do not have much information on the post-War era. Bulgarian boys by the time the Communist era ended was similar to that of the rest of Europe, although generally low incomde levels because of Communist economic policies affected fashion. Some economic progress has been made since the fall of Communism (1989), but significnt ecomomic problems persist. Modern Bulgarian boys dress in the current pan-European fashion.

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Created: 4:22 AM 1/8/2008
Last updated: 7:12 AM 4/1/2016