Figure 1.-- This CDV portrait of an unidentified boy looks to have been taken in the 1860s or early 70s. He looks to be about 9-10 years old. He wears a cut-away jacket suit, Notice his Glengary cap on the table. It has a button top and streamers. The studio was Whipple in Boston.

Glengaries were not a major style for American boys, but we do see some. They were a style a Scottish style imported from Britain. We believe they first appeared in the 1850s, but our archive is too limited to build a definitive time line yet. We note them in the 1860s, but we believe that they were first worn in the 50s. This was obviously the work of Queen Victoria who began to dress the princes in kilts and other Scottish attire. Gradually the Scottish fashion styles began to cross the Atlantic. Highland outfits were fairly limited in America, but the kilt suit proved o be a major style. At more or less the same time we begin to see kilt suits in America. While not common, we see some boys, mostly from from fashionable families, wearing them. They were most commonly worn with kilt suits. Boys also wore them with Highland kilts, but these were much less common than kilt suits in the late-19th century. The kilt suit was a very popular garment for younger boys and thus we do see a number of boys with Glengaries. Itis difficult, however, to assess just how popular they were. Most studio portraits we have found of boys wearing kilt suits do not have boys wearing or holding their headwear. Scottish outfits were not the only outfits with which Glengaries were worn. We also see them worn with cut-away jackets. We have one example of a Boston boy whose portrait looks to have been taken in the 1860s. These caps were worn with Scottish outfits, but other outdirs as well The boy here is wearing a cut-away jacket suit. Note that his cap matches his suit. He is wearing a Glengarry that is cut a little differently than modern Glengaries, it seems to be considerably wider than what we normally see. We note the button top and streamers which were common as well as the checkered cap band.

Prevalence

Glengaries were not a major style for American boys, but we do see some. They were a style a Scottish style imported from Britain. Itis difficult, however, to assess just how popular they were. Most studio portraits we have found of boys wearing kilt suits do not have boys wearing or holding their headwear.

Chronology

We believe that Glengaries first appeared in America during the the 1850s, but our archive is too limited to build a definitive time line yet. We have a very substantial archive, but unfortunately most portraits of kilt suits do not show the headwear. We note them in the 1860s, but we believe that they were first worn in America during the 50s. Apparently more with tunics thn any kind of kilt outfit. We see the caps throughout the rest of the 19th century, especially with Scottish outfits. Most of the Glenarieas we see based on our prelininary assessmennt appear durung the 1860s-80s period. The kilt suit was a major style for American boys fot the rest of the century. Actually the kilt suits were more popular thanb the Flengaries. Unlike Highland outdits, kilt suits were worn with a varity of headwer. But Glengaries were a popular choice. With the turn of the 20th century, the kilt suit goes out of style and we also no longer see Glengaries.

Origins

This was obviously the work of Queen Victoria who began to dress the princes in kilts and other Scottish attire. Gradually the Scottish fashion styles began to cross the Atlantic.

Ages

The Glengaries we have noted were worn by boys abour 3-10 years of age. The older boys we note were mostly found when the Glengaries first appeared in Aneriuca (1850s-70s). As the Gkengaries became more assiciated with kilt suits that younger boys were wearing, we see the upper age range dropped to about 6-7 years of age.

Scottish Outfits

Highland outfits were fairly limited in America, but the kilt suit proved o be a major style. At more or less the same time we begin to see kilt suits in America. While not common, we see some boys, mostly from from fashionable families, wearing them. They were most commonly worn with kilt suits. Boys also wore them with Highland kilts, but these were much less common than kilt suits in the late-19th century. The kilt suit was a very popular garment for younger boys and thus we do see a number of boys with Glengaries.

Other Outfits

Scottish outfits were not the only outfits with which Glengaries were worn. We also see them worn with cut-away jackets. We have one example of a Boston boy whose portrait looks to have been taken in the 1860s (figure 1). These caps were worn with Scottish outfits, but other outdirs as well The boy here is wearing a cut-away jacket suit. Note that his cap matches his suit. He is wearing a Glengarry that is cut a little differently than modern Glengaries, it seems to be considerably wider than what we normally see. We note the button top and streamers which were common as well as the checkered cap band.

Created: 3:18 PM 10/13/2012
Last updated: 7:22 AM 9/14/2015