Figure 1.--This cabinet photo showing an unidentified boy. His hair has been cut short, but he has not yet been breeched. He looks to be about 3 years old. The long dress is belted, The bodice has vertical decices like a Norfolk jacket and has a long row of decorative white buttons. The skirt part of the dress has very wide pleats. The dress has decorative lace trim at both the collar and cuffs. The portrit was taken by the Loomis studio in Salina, Kansas. The portrait is undated, but looks like the 1880s to us.

We notice a range of decorative trim used on dresses. Many were the same deciorative trim used on girls' dresses, but there were some differennces as to both usage and prevalence. There were also differences over time. Many boy dresses were plain, utilitarian garments, but we also see fancy and highly decorated dresses as well. The popularity of the various trims used for dresses varied over time, We hope to develop information on both the types and trim as well as the chronological and gender trends. We see buttons used for stylistic purposes. Large numbers of buttons were used at mid-century. More modest numbers were used late in the century. One popular trim in the 1880s and 90s was lace trim, the same trimed used in Fauntleroy suits. We also notice velvet trim. Ribbons and bows were also popular decorative trim items. Other pre-sewn trim could be purchased ar the store. We are not sure what the term for this trim is. Hopefully home sewers will be able to help us here. This could be add to introduce colored accents, often in contasting colors. We note zig-zag and diagonal trim being used in the 1870s. We notice embridery being used on jsckets, but do not see it being used in dresses much.

Buttons

We see buttons used for stylistic purposes. Large numbers of buttons were used at mid-century. Often we see long lines of buttons, far more than needed for simole utiliarian closures. More modest numbers were used late in the century.

Embroidery

We notice embridery being used on jackets, but do not see it being used in dresses much.

Lace

One popular trim in the 1880s and 90s was lace trim, the same trimed used in Fauntleroy suits.

Pre-sewn Decorations

Pre-sewn trim could be purchased at the store and then sewn on to the dreseses. It was an easy of providing some style to very plain dresses. We are not sure what the term for this trim is. Hopefully home sewers will be able to help us here. This trim camec in many different forms. This could be add to introduce colored accents, often in contasting colors. Unfortuntely the black and white photography of the day makes it impossible to know what colors were used. This trim was usually straight. We note zig-zag and diagonal trim being used in the 1870s. It could be used at on near the neckline, collar, pockets, hem or other areas of the dress.

Ribbons and Bows

Ribbons and bows were also popular decorative trim items.

Velvet

We also notice velvet trim.

Waistline Devices

We note belt-like devices worn on some dresses. The waistline was one of the design elements of the drss. We see dresses with and without defined waistlines. Most dreses came without belts, but many came with some kind of waistline devices. They could be decorated in various ways. Note the decoration on rge waistlibe devices here (figure 1). Often they begame ribbon like elements tht tied into bows at the back. In other cases thery were done more like belts. This was more common with tunic suits.

Created: 10:18 PM 6/5/2010
Last updated: 10:18 PM 6/5/2010