Figure 1.--The tunic fashion made a come back in the late 1890s. Various styles were worn, including sailor, Russian, and Buster Brown styles. They were worn with bloomer knickers. Click on the image for a full view.

The century-old convention of younger boys wearing skirted garments continued in the late-19th century. Boys continued to wear dresses in the later part of the Century. Many continued wearing the same styles as their sisters, but other boys wore the dresses that were now especially styled for boys. Their dresses were little different than those worn by their sisters. The age at which boys wore dresses was extremely varied. Mothers had very different attitudes about when their sons should be breeched and their curls cut. Breeching generally occurred at about age 5 or 6, but it could be sooner or later. The mother had considerable discression on the matter. Harper's had some suggestions about boy dresses in 1877: "Small boy's clothes". The Higland kilt and other Scottish regalia was never very popular in America, although they werre worn--especially in wealthy families. Much more popular was the kilt suit which was a matching jacket and skirt, but not normally in bright Scottish plaid material. The styling of these outfits varied somewhat in the late 1860s and early 1870s, but had become fairly standard by the late 1870s. They were a very popular style for boys in the late 19th century, but declined in popularity after the turn of the century. The kilt suit was an intermediate step for boys which became popular in the 1870s. Tunics declined in popularity in the 1860s. They reappeared in the late 1890s in a variety of styles, Russian blouse, sailor, and Buster Brown suits. While the various styles differed greatly, almost all had belts and were worn with knicker bloomers that showed below the hem of the tunic. Girls also wore these tunics, but often the knickers did not show like the boys' tunics. Much older girls wore these tunics than boys.

Dresses

Boys continued to wear dresses in the later part of the Century. Many continued wearing the same styles as their sisters, but other boys wore the dresses that were now especially styled for boys. Their dresses were little different than those worn by their sisters. The age at which boys wore dresses was extremely varied. Mothers had very different attitudes about when their sons should be breeched and their curls cut. Breeching generally occurred at about age 5 or 6, but it could be sooner or later. The mother had considerable discression on the matter. Harper's had some suggestions about boy dresses in 1877: "Small boy's clothes".

Kilt Suits

The Higland kilt and other Scottish regalia was never very popular in America, although they werre worn--especially in wealthy families. Much more popular was the kilt suit which was a matching jacket and skirt, but not normally in bright Scottish plaid material. The styling of these outfits varied somewhat in the late 1860s and early 1870s, but had become fairly standard by the late 1870s. They were a very popular style for boys in the late 19th century, but declined in popularity after the turn of the century. The kilt suit was an intermediate step for boys which became popular in the 1870s. Many mothers with boys 4-6 years old did not believe that they were ready to be breeched, but no longer wanted to outfit them in dresses. I'm not sure if the reluctance to keep boys in dresses came from the mother or perhaps the father intervened. Boys did have their own opinions on the matter, but they were not often considered of great importance by their mothers. At any rate, the kilt suit provided the perfect compromise. It had many boyish features. In fact the jacket could be later paired with kneepants after the boy was breeched.

Tunics

Tunics declined in popularity in the 1860s. They reappeared in the late 1890s in a variety of styles, Russian blouse, sailor, and Buster Brown suits. While the various styles differed greatly, almost all had belts and were worn with knicker bloomers that showed below the hem of the tunic. Girls also wore these tunics, but often the knickers did not show like the boys' tunics. Much older girls wore these tunics than boys.

Created: 7:25 AM 7/19/2016
Last updated: 7:25 AM 7/19/2016