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American boys commonly wore suits in the 1890s. Wardrobes were generally not large, but suits were a mainstay for almost all boys. The suits were commonly worm with blouses as well as shirt waists. We notice many different styles of shirt waists and blouses offered in the Best Department Store Fall and Winter catalog. This was an important New York City department store which published catalogs and is now a major source of fashion information. Much of our information for 1892-93 comes from this catalog which was well illustrated. Some of the terminology in the catalog seems to be company-specific and not commonly used terms. Sailor and Fauntleroy suits were a popular outfit for boys and we see many different styles. Older boys wre standard suits with a range of collar styles. We have some limited information from other sources. Many mothers sewed the clothes for their children at home. We note a sewing pattern for a knee pants sailor suit. We notice the Double Ve Waist being offered for infants, boys and girls, young ladies, and women.
For several centuries younger boys wore dresses. This had begun to change by the late 19th century, especially by the 1890s. We see a lot of pre-school boys weaing kilt suits rather than dresses. This was especially common for the older pre-school boys. This varied, hoever, from family to family.
Formal dress was verb important in the 1890s and this would continue in the 1900s decade, although a little less for boys as the fauntleroy craze faded. By far the principal decorative item were collars, which we discuss in the tops section. The next more improtant item was neckwear. While neckwear for boys was optional, it could be very imortant inluding huge floppy bows The Best catalog provides a look at neckwear. We see sailor scarves done in a Windsor tie. Sailor scarves could be done in a variety of knots. The most flayboyant neckkwear was the floppy bow. WEe had thought that motherr tied all those floppy bows in the photographed record like neck ties. Apparently they were purchased already tied which is why we see so many perfectly tied bows.
The suits were commonly worm with blouses as well as shirt waists. We notice many different styles of shirt waists and blouses offered in the Best Department Store Fall and Winter catalog. This was an important New York City department store which published catalogs and is now a major source of fashion information. Much of our information for 1892-93 comes from this catalog which was well illustrated. Some of the terminology in the catalog seems to be company-specific and not commonly used terms. Notice the Fauntlerriy blouse here (figurev 1). Fauntleroy blouses were common in 1892, but miosky whire. e raeely see ones like the Best blouse shown here, There eera a range of detachable collars that were worn with short waists and collar buttoning suits, although we some times see them on other suit jackets as well. We notice the Double Ve Waist being offered for infants, boys and girls, young ladies, and women. The term waist' was an abreviation for shirt waist. This was a short-like top tha came without a collar and were worn with derachable collars, although we see examples with collars as well. It made a transition over time, but was commonly worn by children and becoming increasingly popular with women as it could be wirn wihout a jacket.
HBC in 1892 has noted both knee pants and long pants. Knee pats are very common in the 1892 catalogs. We have not noted either short pants or knickers in the catalogs we have found. This does not mean that they did not exist, only that they were not common. The photohraphic record confirms that knee pants had become standard for boys.
American boys commonly wore suits in the 1890s. Wardrobes were generally not large, but suits were a mainstay for almost all boys. Sailor and Fauntleroy suits were a popular outfit for boys and we see many different styles. The Best blouses shown here are a little unsusal (figure 1). The Fauntlroy jacket because of the froging and the sailor jacket with the doubkre-breasted stle. We do see reefer jackets, asimilar style. Older boys wre standard suits with a range of collar styles. We have some limited information from other sources. Many mothers sewed the clothes for their children at home. We note a sewing pattern for a knee pants sailor suit. .
Long stocking were standard for Amrrican children throughout the 1890s. Going barefoot was common in summer, especially in rural areas.
The photographic record orimarily shows children and adults wearing high-top shoes. But low-cut shoes did exist. This was characteristic of the United States. We see these hightoop shoes in Europe, but they were not standard in Europe. We see Europeans wearing both high-top and low-cut shoes. There were low-cut shoes in Ameica as ell. The photographic record, however,suggests that most children and adults of both genders wore high-top shoes. The Best catalog shows low-cut on offer. Notice that some were spdcuialkised like for dancing or the gym.
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