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The question of neckwear and ruffled collars is largely a chronological matter. We see boys wearing ruffled collars throughout the 19th century. The use of neckwear as well as other fators concerning ruffled collars such as age, shape, size, and other matters varied chronologically. Here we are talking about three basic periods in which ruffled collars were worn. We note boys from fashionable city families wearing ruffled collars in the early-19th century. We know much more about the mid-19th century. We see quite a number of boys wearing ruffled collars. They are, however, usually not easy to see. Collars were very small at the time and the ruffled collsrs mostly just peaked out from the collsrs of suits. They were worn exclusively by younger boys and we do not note boys wearing neckwar with them. We know even more about the late-19th century. Here we see boys wearing very large ruffled blouses. They were were worn both with and without fancy neckwear--mostly floppy bows. Neckwear for boys was optional. Many boys wore bows with ruffled collars, but it was not compulsory. Apparently the ruffled collar was dressy enough that the added bow was not a requirement. The same was true of other collars, such as the Eton collar. Thus we see quite a number of boys with just the ruffled collar and no bow or other neckwear. Just the ruffled collar was common at mid-century. By the late-19th cedntury, bows were much more common, although not compulsory. There was no particular age convention affecting the neckwear worn with ruffled collars. This was because the age of the bows wearing ruffled collars was essentially the same as the age weraring floppy bows. This changed a little bit over time, but the two tended to change together. We see large number of boys wearing both ruffled collsrs during the 19th century and floppy bows during the second half of the century. These were both items that gbirlsd mikght slso wear. We do not see girls wearing them nearly as ciommonjly. Also the ruffled collsrs and floppy bows that girls wore tebded to be smaller than the the ones thst boys wore.
The question of neckwear and ruffled collars is largely a chronological matter. We see boys wearing ruffled collars throughout the 19th century. The use of neckwear as well as other fators concerning ruffled collars such as age, shape, size, and other matters varied chronologically. Here we are talking about three basic periods in which ruffled collars were worn. We note boys from fashionable city families wearing ruffled collars in the early-19th century. This was not really a child's style as men might also wear ruffled collars early in the century. We are not sure to what extent neckwear was worn. And most Americans at the time lived on farms and did not have fancy outfits. We know much more about the mid-19th century after the appearance of photography increased the number of available images. We see quite a number of boys wearing ruffled collars. They are, however, usually not easy to see. Collars were very small at the time and the ruffled collsrs mostly just peaked out from the collsrs of suits. They were worn exclusively by younger boys and we do not note boys wearing neckwar with them. We know even more about the late-19th century. Here we see boys wearing very large ruffled blouses. They were were worn both with and without fancy neckwear--mostly floppy bows. Both the collars and bows varied in size, but were generally large. Some of these bows like the collars were huge. Usually the collar was much larger than the bow, but we see some boys with vows that virtually covered over the collar.
Neckwear for boys was optional. Many boys wore bows with ruffled collars, but it was not compulsory. Apparently the ruffled collar was dressy enough that the added bow was not a requirement. The same was true of other collars, such as the Eton collar. Thus we see quite a number of boys with just the ruffled collar and no bow or other neckwear. Just the ruffled collar was common at mid-century. By the late-19th cedntury, bows were much more common, although not compulsory.
There was no particular age convention affecting the neckwear worn with ruffled collars. This was because the age of the bows wearing ruffled collars was essentially the same as the age weraring floppy bows. This changed a little bit over time, but the two tended to change together.
We see large number of boys wearing both ruffled collsrs during the 19th century and floppy bows during the second half of the century. These were both items that gbirlsd mikght slso wear. We do not see girls wearing them nearly as ciommonjly. Also the ruffled collsrs and floppy bows that girls wore tebded to be smaller than the the ones thst boys wore.
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