Figure 1.--These Massachusettes boys wear double-breated suits. The lapels seem to be set very high. They have large white collars wich we believe they were done as Eton collars. Note the matching cuffs. Both boys have colorful floppy bows. The boys look to be about 5-9 years old. Noys a little older would wear neck ties. A good exmple is two Pittsburgh brothers photographed sat about the same time. Click on the image for a fuller discussion.

We continue to commonly see large floppy bows in the early-1900s, especially the first half of the decade. As in the 1890s, the floppy bow was an optional Fauntleroy, but still quite common in the early-1900s. They were commonly worn as part if Fauntleroy outfits, but not only Fauntleroy outfits.n . The floppy bow was an optionl item. We see boys with Fauntleroy outfits both with abd without floppy bows. A good example is an unidentified Allentown, Pennsylvania boy. Another good example is Raymond J.D. Webb about 1900. They were still very common in the 1900s and we continue to very large ones, but not quite as large as in the 1890s. And the size began to notably decline after about 1905. We see boys with floppy boys in the 1900s, but the huge bows were much less common. A good example is Frank Schrerer about 1905. The popularity and size of the bows began to decline. A good example is a San Jose boy about 1905. Another example is Charles Dorff about 1905. After about 1905 we see fewer of the really large bows. The bows, however, had began to decline in popularity and size by the end of the decade. We see Harold Howes wearing a moderate-sized bow with an Eton collar and tunic suit in 1905. We see noys wearing them both with Fautleroy collars and wide white collars many are done as Eton collars. We see both colored and white bows as well as msny patterns. They were tied in a variety of knots. They were worn nostly by pre-teen boys, They were mostly worn with suits, but a few boys wore them just with blouses. We are not yet sure about the conmventions, but many of the imges we have found are studio portraits. We notice some boys dressing for for formal occassions such as First Communions.

Popularity

We continue to commonly see large floppy bows in the early-1900s, especially the first half of the decade. As in the 1890s, the floppy bow was an optional Fauntleroy, but still quite common in the early-1900s.

Accompanying Outfits

We note boys wearing floppy bows with a variety of and blouses and other shirt-like garments. They were worn both with and without suit jackets. Floppy bows in the 1900s were most associated with outfits for younger boys such as Fauntleroy suits, but we see older boys wearing them as well with standard suits. Floppy biows were commonly worn as part if Fauntleroy outfits, but not only Fauntleroy outfits. We see boys wearing them both with Fautleroy collars and wide white collars many are done as Eton collars. The floppy bow was an optionl item. We see boys with Fauntleroy outfits both with abd without floppy bows. A good example is an unidentified Allentown, Pennsylvania boy. He is wearing age floppy bow with a smart sailor suit. Another good example is Raymond J.D. Webb about 1900. He is wearing aouble-breasted suit, which looks like it was made to be worn open. Another example is Frank Schrerer with a Fauntleroy blouse abd no jacket about 1905. Another example is Charles Dorff who was wearing a floppy bow with an Eton collar about 1905. Floot bows were not only worn with Fauntlerpu blouses and Eton collars. We also see them worn with standard suits with variousither collars. This often involved older pre-teens or younger teens who got their first stanndard suit nd mother had them wear floppy bows with them so they did not look too mature. This varied greatly from family to family.

Size

Both the popularity and size of the bows began to decline after the turn of the century. Floppy bows were still very common in the 1900s and we continue to very large ones, but not quite as large as in the 1890s. And the size began to notably decline after about 1905. We see boys with floppy boys in the 1900s, but the huge bows were much less common. After about 1905 we see fewer of the really large bows. The bows, however, had began to decline in popularity and size by the end of the decade. We see Harold Howes wearing a moderate-sized bow with an Eton collar and tunic suit in 1905.

Age

Floppy bows especially after 1905 began to be worn more and more by younger boys. A good example is a San Jose boy about 1905. They were worn mostly by pre-teen boys, both pre-school boys and boys in the first few ywears of primary school. After this they become less common at school, but we still see them when domewhat older boys were dressed up for special occassions. here were no defenitive rules. Sometimes we see an older boy in a family wearing a floppy bow, but on these occassions the younger boy usually had a fancy collar. Some mothers mighr still add a floppy bow to an older boy's outfit to add a little flare and color, but in such ccases he might commonly wear a more mature suit. This reflected the convention for wearing Fauntleroy blouses and collars both with and without floppy bows. We are still assessing the age range as our archive continues to expand. We believe floppy bows in the 1900s were primarily a pre-teen style, but it is possible that some younger teens may have worn them. This remains, however to be confirmed.

Color

We see both colored and white bows as well as msny patterns.

Knots

They were tied in a variety of knots.

Conventions

We are not yet sure about the conventions as tgo where the floppy bows were worn. Many of the images we have found are studio portraits which does not tell us much about the conventions. We notice some boys dressing for for formal occassions such as First Communions and church, but some younger boys also wore them to school.

Created: 2:29 AM 2/13/2010
Last updated: 5:45 PM 3/12/2013