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United States boys clothes: chronology 1890s garments
United States Boys Garments (1890s)
Figure 1.--Most photography in the 1890s was still studio photography, but we have found a few outdoors photograph like this store frontb image, taken by a stdio that did outdoor work. We suspect that the store owner wanted a photograph of his store. Wearemot sure who the men and boys are. At least one was pesumably a clerk. The boys may be sons. Notice the younger boys wear knee pants and are barefoot. Also notice that they are wearing shirt waists without collars. This is a good example of how boys commonly dressed during the 1890s. The studio was Cunbrtson's in East Liverpool, Ohio.
We have detailed information on the farments popular in the 1890s thanks to the enormous photograohic record.
Younger boys might wear skirted garments, although this century-old convention began to decline after mid-decade. We are not sure just why. We suspect that the popularity of Fauntleroy suits was a factor. The skirted garment we see most commonly is the kilt suit and by the turn-of-the century tunic suits. Fauntleroy blouses were very common. Yonger boys especially fancy blouses without jacket during the summer. Older boys did so as well. They were done with large ruffled collars. School-age boys might wear Fauntleroy blouses with regular suit jackets. Neckwear varied. Huge floppy bows were still common. We see both collar-buttoning and lapel jackets. We also see Eton collars, although thy ere not nearly as common as in Britain. Sailor suits were also popular. Knee pants became standard dyring the decade and were if not vniversal, very close to it. They were somewhat less common in rural areas, especially for older boys. Long stocking were virtually universal for both boy and girls. Dark long stockings, especially black, were very common. Children and adults mostly wore high-top shoes. Many children went barefoo in the summer, especially in the countryside and summer.
Photographic Record
We have quite a bit of information on 1890s garments in America, in part due to the huge photograohic record. No country has left such n immnse ophotographic record, in part due th unrcedented prpsperity generated by American indutry and agriculture.
Headwear
Headwear was still very common in the 1890s. It was diverse. We see both including both caps and hats. Notice we mostly see hsts hre among the young men and boys een here (figure 1). Only the teenager at the right wears a cap. Younger boys might wear hats. Wide-brimmed sailor hats were common. Older boys wore both caps and hats of various styles. The 1890s was the last decade we see large numbers of boys wearing hats.
Younger boys still wore dresses in the 1890s. There seems to be more of a trend to differentiate boys and girls clothing. We note boy dresses being advertized. The convention of boys wearing dresses had existed for centuries. It seemsd to have decline in popular in the later part of the decade. We are not entirely sure why. We think the popularity of the kilt suit and Fauntleroy suit were factors here. Except for infants, we see more boys wearing kilt suits than actual dresses. The 1890s, however, was the last decade that the kilt suit was a major fashion item. Smocks were not common in America except in rather affluent families. Tunic suits were worn in the late-19th century, but they werwnot nearly as common as dresses and kilt suits. For some reason this chnged at theyurn-of-the century and tunics became a major style for boys. We see this in the photographic record, but have no idea why this occurred and occurred so suddenly. The new style of tunic or blouse suits were made in various styles. The makor tyles were sailor, Russian, and Buster Brown. We see some styles that were much less common. Tunic suits were enormously popular and began to replace the kilt suit. Girls of course only wore skirted garments.
Shirt-like Garments
Fauntleroy blouses were very common. Yonger boys especially fancy blouses without jacket during the summer. Older boys did so as well. They were done with large ruffled collars. School-age boys might wear Fauntleroy blouses with regular suit jackets. Neckwear varied. Huge floppy bows were still common. We see both collar-buttoning and lapel jackets. We also see Eton collars, although thy ere not nearly as common as in Britain.
Younger Boys' Suits
The styles of the 1880s, such as kilt suits, Fauntleroy suits, and sailors suits continued to be popular. The sailor suit was especiallly popular and was now also worn by girls, but with skirts rather than knee pants. Fauntleroy styling was very popular in the 1890s. Fancy styles such as Fauntleroy suits reached their peak of popularity in the 1890s as were sailor suits.
Shirt Like Garments
American boys un the 1890s commonly wore blouses, often with large collars, knee pants, and long stockings, mostly black long stockings. A good example is Harold Wilson in 1897. The boys here seem to be wearing shirt waists rather than blouses or shirtc (figure 1). Notice the collars. Very common at the time were Fauntleroy blouses. A good example is 7oyear old Willie Schriner. These blouses were worn by boys into their early teens.
Pants
Knee pants were now widely worn by boys of all ages. We see even older teenagers wearing knee pants by the end of the decade. This was especially common in cities, but not so common with boys in rural areas or boys whon had left school to work. Most school-age boys wore knee pants, mostly with long stockings. Suspenders were very common to hold pants up, apparently more common than belts as can be seen here (figure 1).
Hosiery
Long stocking were virtually universal for both boy and girls. Dark long stockings, especially black, were very common. Children and adults mostly wore high-top shoes. Many children went barefoo in the summer, especially in the countryside and summer.
Footwear
When not dressed up for a special occassion, boys commonly went barefoot. especially in the South and rural areas during the summer. Long stocking were virtually universal for both boy and girls. Both children and adults mostly wore high-top shoes. They were seen as very fashionnle.
Hair Styles
Fauntlkeroy styling was very popular in the 1890s. Some boys might wear long hair, in some cases in ringlet curls. This was mpstly younger boys from affluent families, but we see a few older boys as well.
