Figure 1.--Herev we see two Connecticut chikldre, we gthink in the 1900s decade. The caninrt card portrait is undated, but the mount suggests the 1900s decade. The children look to be about 4-7 years old. The boy wears a double-breasted knee-pants suit. Note the lack of Fauntleroy styling. We think he has a floppy bow, but it is covered up. The girl wears a dress with embroidery and unusual fur detailing. The studio was M.T. Morse in Derby, Connecticut.

Suits became steadily more common for American boys in the 19th century. The reverse is true for the 20th century, especially after World War I in the 1920s. Suits were, however, very common at the onset of the 20th century in the 1900s decade. We continue to see large numbers of boys wearing suits. Double-breasted jackets in the early-20th century. Actually, the 1890s and 1900s decades were the two most popular decades for double breasted styling. We see that in both the photographic record and the mail order catalogs. And this was not just for the upper and middle-class boys. We see working-class boys wearing these suits as well, at least in the early-20th century. A good example is Tom Epperson in 1908-09. Double breasted jackets continued to be popular in the 1910s. Unlike the 1900s, there was more variation in the 1910s. We see a lot of Norfolk suits in the 10s. You begin to see a gradual shift to single-breasted jackets, especially notable after World War I in the 1920s. Double-breasted jackets gradually came to be seen as more formal type of suit. Sports jackets became popular (1930s). They were done in single-breasted style. You do not see sport jackets commonly being made as double-breasted jackets. After the 1950s we mostly see boys wearing single-breasted suit jackets. As a youth in the 1950s, I saw double-breasted jackets as rather old fashioned and fr older men. Word War II may have been a factor when styles using less fabric were favored. There were some notable variations. Double-breasted jackets, like single-breasted jackets were made in different styles. This included blazers, although single-breasted blazers were by far the standard style. Double-breasted jackets, however, were less likely to be done in the various distinctive jacket styles. Rather most double-breasted jackets over time seem to have been done in a basically similar style. less affected by major changes in lapel sizes and other basic suit jacket features.

The 1900s

Suits became steadily more common for American boys in the 19th century. By the end of the 19th century, most boys were wearing suits. Even news boys wore suits. They were even common in rural areas at schools and churches. The reverse is true for the 20th century, especially after World War I in the 1920s. Suits were, however, still very common at the onset of the 20th century in the 1900s decade. We continue to see large numbers of boys wearing suits. Dasual clothing as we now kniow it did not yet exist. Boys unless from walthy families did not have klarge wardrobes. Double-breasted jackets in the early-20th century were the most popiualr style of sut. Actually, the 1890s and 1900s decades were the two most popular decades for double breasted styling. We see that in both the photographic record and the mail order catalogs. And this was not just for the upper and middle-class boys. We see working-class boys wearing these suits as well, at least in the early-20th century. A good example is Tom Epperson in 1908-09.

The 1910s

Suits Double breasted jackets continued to be popular in the 1910s. Unlike the 1900s, there was more variation in the 1910s. We see a lot of Norfolk suits in the 10s. And therevwas a huhev shiftb in ruralmschools. Boys began wearig overals to school.

The 1920s

You begin to see a gradual shift to single-breasted jackets, especially notable after World War I in the 1920s. Double-breasted jackets gradually came to be seen as more formal type of suit.

The 1930s

Sports jackets became popular (1930s). They were done in single-breasted style. You do not see sport jackets commonly being made as double-breasted jackets.

The 1940s

Word War II may have been a factor when styles using less fabric were favored.

The 1950s

As a youth in the 1950s, I saw double-breasted jackets as rather old fashioned and fr older men.

The 1960s

After the 1950s we mostly see boys wearing single-breasted suit jackets. There were some notable variations. Double-breasted jackets, like single-breasted jackets were made in different styles. This included blazers, although single-breasted blazers were by far the standard style. Double-breasted jackets, however, were less likely to be done in the various distinctive jacket styles. Rather most double-breasted jackets over time seem to have been done in a basically similar style. less affected by major changes in lapel sizes and other basic suit jacket features.

Created: 1:41 PM 6/1/2023
Last updated: 4:49 AM 8/15/2024