Figure 1.--Here we see a boy on an outing to a park, probably with his grandmother. Notice that his flat cap matches his Norfolk knickers suit.

We see boys wearing flat caps with quite a variety of different suits. A few boys wore flat caps with Fauntleroy suits, mostly at the turn-of-the 20th century. This was not very common, but we do see examples. we also see a few boys wearing flat caps with sailor suits. This also was not very common, but flat caps and sailor suits were so common that we do see them worn together. This was usually not the sailor suits with the traditional detailing. We see many more American boys wearing flat caps with their knicker suits. This was by far the most common combination we see in the photographic record. Thus was an iconic look it was so common, rather like English boys wearing school caps and French boys wearing berets. Norfolk jackets were especially popular in thec 1910s. We see boys also wearing standard single- and double-breasted suits with flat caps as well. This was especially common in the 1910s and 20s. It was an icomic look. Many boys dressed up in suits and flat caps for church and school with flat caps. It was especially common in the 1910s. During the 20s we begin to see fewer boys wearing suits to school, although the flat cap continued to be very popular.

Faunleroy Suits

We see boys wearing flat caps with quite a variety of different suits. A few boys wore flat caps with Fauntleroy suits, mostly at the turn-of-the 20th century. This was not very common, but we do see examples. These tended to be the younger boys wearing flat caps. Here we see both fashionable caps in the late-19th century before flat caps became such a standard for boys and a few examples at mid-century as the flat cap was becoming increasingly popular.

Sailor Suits

Sailor suits and flats caps were two very popular styles, but not all that commonly worn together. we also see a few boys wearing flat caps with sailor suits. This also was not very common, but flat caps and sailor suits were so common that we do see them worn together. This was usually not the sailor suits with the traditional detailing. The boys wearing sailor suits bu the 1910s tended to be younger school-age boys and even more so in the 20s. Most of the examples come from the the early-20 century. At the time the sailor suit was becoming worn by increasingly younger boys and the flat cap was becoming increasingly popular. There was a age overlap. The older boys wearing sailor suits were some of the younger school-age boys wearing flat caps.

Standard Suits

American boys by the time the flat cap became popular were mostly wearing standard sack suits. By far the most common combination of flat caps and suits were boys wearing standard suits in various styles. Norfolk jackets were especially popular with flat caps. We see large numbers of this combination in the 1910s. We see boys also wearing standard single- and double-breasted suits with flat caps as well. This was often knicker suits, but we see older teenafers wearing long pants suits with flat caps. Short pants suits we less common with flat caps. Many but not all boys wearing short pants suits wore rounded crown peaked caps. We see many more American boys wearing flat caps with their knicker suits. This was by far the most common combination we see in the photographic record. Thus was an iconic look it was so common, rather like English boys wearing school caps and French boys wearing berets. This was especially common in the 1910s and 20s. It was an icomic look. Many boys dressed up in suits and flat caps for church and school with flat caps. It was especially common in the 1910s. During the 20s we begin to see fewer boys wearing suits to school, although the flat cap continued to be very popular. These were school-age boys of all ages, including boys in both primary and econdary schools.

Created: 7:35 PM 3/19/2012
Last updated: 2:04 AM 3/7/2014