Figure 1.--This unidentified little boy dress had baloon sleeces which were very fashionable for ladies' dresses in the 1890s. The cabinet card mount is undated, but the nount looks like the late-1890s. He wears a white lace dress with eyelet trim and puffy sleeves. One might think tht he was was a girl, but the side part hairstyle gives it away. He also wears black stockings, and black leather button boots. The studio was Philpot of Sanford, Maine.

Fashion did not always play a major role in boys' dresses. Some boys, especially younger boys, wore very basic dresses without any real fashion influence. This was particularly the case for play garments. They were practical garments, an easy way to dress little boys. They were both practical garments and easy to make. They are probably not very well represented in the 19th century photographic record. They changed little over time. Not all the dresses worn by boys were these practical play garments. We also see boys wearing very fancy dresses with many of the fashion features of the dresses worn by women and girls. These were features that did change over time.

Created: 7:30 PM 3/24/2010
Last updated: 7:30 PM 3/24/2010