Figure 1.--Here we see two smartly dressed boys in the 1900s. Note the age differencews. The scene looks rural, but we this may have been some kind of country house. The older boy wears a flat cap with a knee pants Norfolk suit and black long stockings. His younger brother wears a broad-brimmed hat, fancy blouse, some kind of sjort pants, white socks and strap shoes.

The photographic record provides us a very detailed record of childrens styles during the early 20th century. The 1900s styles were much the same as the 1890s, especially in the early 1900s. We continue to see boys wearing formally fancy clothing in the 1900s. Age differences continue to be pronounced. The most signicant new style was the tunic suit. Very signicant changes begin to appear by the end of the decade. By the 1910s very notable changes had begun in boys clothes. We see more informal styles, especially by the end of the decade. These trends continued in the 1920s when many rather modern styles began to emerge. Condiderable differences are obsrerveable between the 1900s and 1910s. Of course the major event shaping the era was the catestrophy of World War I (1914-18). Many changes were noteable during the war, but the fashions that later emerged after the War in the 1920s revolutionized boys fashions, although the fashions adopted were mostly first developed in the pre-War era.

The 1900s

Many popular late-19th Century fashions continued to be worn in the Edwardian era. Fauntleroy suits and sailor suits continued popular. The tunic styles of Russian blouses and Buster Brown suits became especially popular. Many boys who might have worn dresses in an earlier era wore the new tunic style. The shorter Buster Brown bangs was all the rage, in part repacing the ringlet curls previously worn my many boys. Boys clothing styles in the 1900s were little changed from the 1890s, but there were differences. Special boys' dresses were increasingly advertised as opposed to generic children's dresses for boys and girls. Fauntleroy suits increasingly were worn with ruffled rather than lace collars. More boys were wearing knickers rarher than knee pants with long stockings.

The 1910s

Fauntleroy suits began to be worn with ruffled rather than lace collars and declined in popularity. Sailor suits, however, continued popular. Knickers and short pants began replacing the kneepants worn for several decades. Uncomfortable long stockings were increasingly replaced with socks, often three-quarter length socks. Rompers became very popular for younger boys. The practice of outfitting boys in dresses, however, began to decline in popularity. Little American boys were less commonly outfitted in dresses, especially beyond the toddler age. Rompers had become very popular for younger boys. A boy's dress party suit was now less likely to be a Faintleroy suit. Kilt suits were also less commonly worn. Some boys wore kneepants with long stockings for formal occasions, but most boys best suit was now a knicker suit. Long stockings were still worn as the knickers were usually worn above the knee.

Created: 9:58 AM 1/29/2011
Last updated: 10:46 PM 3/2/2013