Figure 1.--This family is unidentified. The boys wears matching hats, tunic suit.bloomer knickers, white ankle socks, a patent leather ankle strap shoes. The only difference in their outfits is that the younger brother wears a tunic and the older brother a blouse.

We see bloomer knickers being worn with a variety of outfits by boys in the mid-19th century. At the turn if the 20th century, we mostly see them being worn with tunic suits. A HBC reader believes that bloomer knickers were not just worn with tunic suits. He believes that bloomer knickers were made for younger boys, but with out the bodice. He writes, "I have the impression that bloomer knickers tended to be worn primarily by younger boys--ten years or younger. The buckles might be difficult for younger children to manage whereas elasticized hems would be easier for them. My main point is that bloomer-style knickers would almost be necessary if the knickers were short and closed around the middle thigh. Strap closures around the thicker part of the leg would be awkward and impractical. The strap and buckle arrangement derives from knee breeches (an 18th-century garment) which always came down to the knee." Here we are unsure. We have not noted bloomer knickers advertized in period catalogs. We were not sure what the knee hem closing arrngement was for the knickers offered in the smaller sizes. We at first though the closures were elasticized, but have since determined they were draw strings.

Created: 9:08 PM 3/13/2008
Last updated: 9:08 PM 3/13/2008