Figure 1.--This American cabinet card shows some of the boys'collars worn in 1900s decade. The children look to be about 3-13 yeras old. The youngest boy wears a Fauntleroy collar. The next youngest wears a large rounded collar, midway between an Etion and Peter Pan collar. the two older boys wear a high collar. The younger boys wear floppy bows. The older boys probably both wear small bow ties. The studio was Le Sueur Center, Minnesota. .

We still see the fancy Fauntkeroy collars at the beginning of the 20th century, but they did not last long. Many school age boys in the late-19th and early- 20th centuries wore Eton collars when dressing up. This lasted a little longer. The fancy lace and ruffled collars were becoming less popular in the 1910s. We still see wing collars and high collars, but less commonly for boys. World War I was a major turning point in fashion. Many fancy, formal styles disappeared after the War. Younger boys might wear Peter Pan collars or similar large collars with points. Eton collars went out of style, although we see some younger boys wearing them when dressung up. Gradually a standard pointed collar became the nost common collar worn. The size of the collar varied. The huge collars of the early-20th century disapared after World War I. Younger boys still wore larger collars, but not the huge collars of the late-19th century. Collars were often worn buttoned. Some mothers insiusted on it. Sports collars became popular (1920s). Preppy styles became popular (1950s). We still see many boys buttoning their collars at mid-century. Many boys wore shirts with button-down collars. Collarless "T" shirts became increasing popular in the latter part of the 20th century. This was part of the increasing popularity of informal dress. We notice fad styles in the 1970s like the Chinese and Nehru collars. And collars grew in size along with lapels (1970s). Collars returned to more normal sizes (1980s). We notice few boys by the end of the century buttoning their collars. There were both button-down and regular collars at the end of the century.

The 1900s

We still see the fancy Fauntlroy collars at the beginning of the 20th century, but they did not last long. The Fauntleroy Craze was coming to an end and becoming less common by mid-dedade. We see fewer older boys wearing the large white collars, although blouses with Fauntleroy-type collars, often colored, stipes, or prints were done up for boys, including younger teens. They had back flaps like sailor blouses. These were not for Fauntleroy suits. We still see large fancy collars, but not as large as in the 1890s. The collars were commioky ruffled collars. Lace collars were not very common, but the ruffled collars often had eyelet lace trim. Sailor collars continued to be popular. This primarily involved the standard V-front collar with a varieky of detailing variations. A more informal garment became poopular--tunics. They were done in various styles and a range of collars. A new collar style was the Russian blouse which was done without a collar or the bare minimum. These collars were used for both tunics abnd blouses. We see many school age boys in the late-19th and early-20th centuries wearing Eton collars when dressing up. The standard Eton collar had pointed tips. We see many different types, some with varying degrees of ronded tips, some becoming Peter Pan collars. These collars were worn with and without floppy bows. The size of the bows gradually declined as the decade progressed. This lasted a little longer. We still see wing collars and high collars, but less commonly for boys. We also notice high collars and wing collars for older teenagers and men. The Minnesota children here are a good example of 1900s collars and bows (figure 1).

The 1910s

The fancy lace and ruffled collars were becoming less popular in the 1910s. World War I was a major turning point in fashion. Many fancy, formal styles disappeared after the War. Younger boys might wear Peter Pan collars or similar large collars with points. Eton collars went out of style, although we see some younger boys wearing them when dressung up.

The 1920

Gradually a standard pointed collar became the nost common collar worn. The size of the collar varied. The huge collars of the early-20th century disapared after World War I. Younger boys still wore larger collars, but not the huge collars of the late-19th century. Collars were often worn buttoned. Some mothers insiusted on it. Sports collars became popular (1920s).

The 1950s

Preppy styles became popular (1950s). We still see many boys buttoning their collars at mid-century. Many boys wore shirts with button-down collars.

The 1960s

Collarless "T" shirts became increasing popular in the latter part of the 20th century. This was part of the increasing popularity of informal dress.

The 1970s

We notice fad styles in the 1970s like the Chinese and Nehru collars. And collars grew in size along with lapels (1970s).

The 1980s

Collars returned to more normal sizes (1980s). We notice few boys by the end of the century buttoning their collars. There were both button-down and regular collars at the end of the century.

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Created: 10:34 PM 9/13/2020
Last updated: 10:34 PM 9/13/2020