Figure 1.-- This cabinet card shows boy's and girl's hats, we think in the 1890s. The boy wears a Fauntleroy suit abd ruffled collar. The girl wears a high-waist dress. As is often the case, their hats are laid out at the bottom of the portrait so as not to cover up the children's faces and hair. Notice the dark straw worked into the boy's hat to create a little pattern. The studio portrait is undated, but the mount suggests the 1890s. The boy's hat was a standard wide-brimmed hat often worn with Fauntleroy suit, although boys wore other hats and caps well. In addition to the baby, the children look to be about 4-6 years old. Notice how the girl's hat had flowers added. As a result of the rubbing damage to the photograph, we can not tell if he is wearing knee pants or a kilt/skirt. We are certain he liked being on the hobby horse. It looks very real as thosestudio props often were. The studio was Strunk in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Boys still commonly wore hats in the 1890s, although caps were increasing in popularity. We continue to see rounded crown hats in rural areas the 1890s, but this was the last decade that thee hats were a major style for boys. Younger boys might wear broad-brimmed sailor hats. This was a popular style worn with both Fauntleroy suits and the other outfits worn by younger boys. We see both rounded and flat top hats. Some of these hats were huge compared to the size of the boys. We also see boaters which was becoming a style worn by yoths and men as well. This was not the only headwear worn by younger boy, but it was one of the most popular. Girls also wore these hats. They also wore hats decorated with flowers, but these were only for girls and women. Older boys might wear styles popular with adult men such as derbies and hombergs. For both younger and older boys these hats hats had sovial class conotations. Working-class boys were more likely to wear caps and several styles were popular in the 1890s much more so than the 1880s. Hats were never again as popular as they were in the late-19th century. Caps became standard for boys in rhe 20th century and we begin to see more caps in the 1890s, including several styles. We believe that many boys who wore hats in these early portraits also had caps. They often look wll-to-do. They may have worn caps in more informl circumtnces. Less affluent children might just have caps. This is a little difficult to detemine with any certainty. Headwear in general declined in popularity during the next century, but not immeditely at the turn-of-the century.

Prevalence

Boys still commonly wore hats in the 1890s, although caps were increasing in popularity. Many of the studio portraits we see have the children with their headwer. Commonly they are holding their headwer rather than wearing it. We assume moyhers wanted the children's hair styles to show, but also wanted the hats shown in the portrait. Hats were never again as popular as they were in the late-19th century. Headwear in general declined in popularity during the next century, but not immeditely at the turn-of-the century. Unfortunately as the family snapshot was not yet common, what we primarily have to go on is formal studio portraits.

Popular Styles

We notice a range of hat styles commonly worn by boys in the 1890s. Two of the most popular styles for boys were the wide brimmed sailor hat and the rounded crown hat with a modest brim. We continue to see rounded crown hats in rural areas the 1890s. This was perhps the most common style for boy throughout the 19th century. We are not sure what the proper name for the hts were at the time. They are often called prson's hats today. This was the last decade that these hats were a major style for boys. Younger boys might wear broad-brimmed sailor hats. This was a popular style worn with both Fauntleroy suits and the other outfits worn by younger boys. It was essentially the rounded crown hat withan enlarged brim, although some of thee hats had flat crowns. We see both rounded and flat top hats. Some of these hats were huge compared to the size of the boys. We also see boaters which was becoming a style worn by youths and men as well. This was not the only headwear worn by younger boy, but it was one of the most popular. All of these styles varied greatly. Notice the boy's hate here. It rather looks like a hat in between a wide-brimmed sailor hat and a boater (figure 1). The boater of course originated as a sailor hat. So it is not lway possible to clerly categorizd the different styles.

Gender Trends

Girls also wore these hats. They also wore hats decorated with flowers, but these were only for girls and women. Many styles werte gender specific for adult. Younger children might wear some of the same styles. But the girls and women commonly wore highly decorated hats. This was not he case for boys, even younger boys boys not yet breeched and wearing skirted gatments.

Age Trends

Yonger boys rther incongrouly wore the largest hats especially broad-brimmed sailor hats. The standard rounded crown hat with a medium brim was vwey common for school age (meaning primry school) boys. Older boys might wear styles popular with adult men such as derbies and hombergs.

Social Class

For both younger and older boys these hats hats had social class conotations. Here cost was a factor, They tended to cost more than caps. Working-class boys were more likely to wear caps and several styles were popular in the 1890s much more so than the 1880s.

Caps

Caps became standard for boys in rhe 20th century and we begin to see more caps in the 1890s, including several styles. We believe that many boys who wore hats in these early portraits also had caps. They often look wll-to-do. They may have worn caps in more informl circumtnces. Less affluent children might just have caps. This is a little difficult to detemine with any certainty. Unfortunately as we mostly have studio portraits to go on, we do not have as much evience as we would like as to what boys wore in less formal circumstances, although we do have more than for earlier decades.

Created: 2:26 PM 4/26/2016
Last updated: 2:27 PM 4/26/2016