|
Skirted garments are today see as garments almost exclusively for girls. This is a relatively recent concept. Throughout history men have worn skirted garments, in part bcause they were relatively easy garments to make. In more recent history, younger boys for several centuries wore dresses just like their sisters. This did not begin to change until the mid-19th century when we begin to see kilt suits becoming more popular that dresses for boys i America. Dresses were still worn by very young boys, but even this began to become less common in the mid-1890s decade. The 1900sdecade was the last decade that we see sizeable numbers of even younger boys wearing dresses. At the same time kilt suits. The only skirted garment that was popular in the 1900s decade was the tunic, a garment that was popular for boys in the early-19th century , but then declined in popularity. Tunic for some reason had a renewed popularity in both the 1900s and 10s. Pinafores were garments still widely still widely worn by girls, but never by boys, presumably because they were so strongly associated with girls. . Smocks were a poplar garment for children in Europe, but never worn much by boys or girls in America. We rarely see them advertised in American catalogs.
Little boys still wore dresses in 1900, although the prevalence of this convention was declining. Some dresses were specifically styled for boys. We note, for example, dresses being called kilt dresses to give them more appeal as the kilt was a make garment. We also still see many advertisements dor children's dresses including dresses for very young children. The use of the term 'chilren' of course meams both boys and girls. The fancier dresses woukd at the time been seen as primarily for girls. The plainer dresses coulkd have been wirn by either boys and girls.
Another ad from Best & Co.--this one for Boys' One-Piece Kilt
Dresses, from The Youth's Companion (May 30, 1901, p. 289). Note that this is an advertisements for specifically designed boys' dresses. Interestingly, the age range is age 2, 2 1/2, and 3 years. Apparently most boys graduated from dresses to trousers (breeching) at about age 3 1/2 or 4. HBC has other advertisements from Best & Co (e.g., the Rugby Waist) sold by a division of the shop referred to as the "Lilputian Bazaar." The ad copy read, "Best & Co. Liliputian Bazaar. Boys' One-Piece Kilt Dress. Made of fine white
pique: the yoke front is neatly trimmed with insertion and band embroidery; back has four narrow box plaits from collar to bottom of skirt. Ages 2, 2 1/2, and 3 years. $3.25. By mail, postage paid, 15 cents extra. Our catalogue, in new form, listing nearly 2,000 Articles for Children, more than half of them illustrated, sent on receipt of this advertisement and 4 cents postage. Address Dept. 15. 60-62 W. 23d St., New York."
Little boys for centuries wore dresses. This began to chnge in America during the mid-19th century when we see kilt suits appearing. Younger boys still wore dresses, but at about 1 1/2-3 yers we see kilt suits becoming more prevalent for boys. This continue into the very early-1900s when both dresses and kilt suits were going out of style. We still see a few bots wearing dresses in the 1900s. A good examole is the 1901 Atsma catalog. We do not know a lot about the company. It does not appear to have been a very large company. And we can find no trace of it on the internet. We note a range of different styles offered for children and not just girks. The age range is months to 6 years, buth varied from item to item. The reference to 'short dresses' refes to the long dresses commony used for very young children. Girls could have worn any of the styles depicted. There is no mention of gender, but the dress styles and hair styling suggest some styles suitable for boys and girls. Nos. 1212, 1215, 1218, 1220, 1221, and 1223 would seem the most suitable for boys. While some of these dresses were done in sizes up to 6 years, it is likely that for the most part the boys actually weearing these dressess would have mostly been only up to 3 years of age perhaps 4 years. Dress 1218 looks rather like a tunic suit. All the different styles are pictured with ankle socks at a time that long stockings were commonly worn by children and not only school-age chidren. .
Younger boys still wore kilt suits when dressing up. They seem much less common and for notably younger boys after the turn of the 20th century, but we still see some being offered in catalogs. Here we see a dress styles rather like a kilt suit (figure 1). It was, however, a dress, not a kilt suit. Notice that by 1901 dressesandkilts were only seen as suitable for 2 and 3 year olds. Earlier kilt suits were common for both 4 and 5 year old, bt also worn by even older boys,especailly 6-year olds.
We note a 1901 pattern for a Higland kilt oit fit. This ine ws for a 3-4 year old boy. This would have been an expensive garment even if sewed at home and would hve meant lot of wotk. Kilt suits were more common fo younger boys, but after the turn -of--the 20th cehtury were going out of style. We are not sure who profuced the pttern. It was datd 1901/ The as copy read, "1 Scottish Dress for Boy 3-4 Years Pattern. 24 Chest - 22 Waist only. This costume, suiting small boys up to the ag of 5 years, is composed of baggy breeches, underwaist, a jacket and vest made of black velvet edged with silver silk braid, and decorated with silver buttons. Kilt not included (see Folkwear #154). English translation and original French instructions included. Yardage - 3 1/4 yds black velvet 29" wide, 1 1/4 yards striped lining, 29 ½" black lining, 20" white lining, 20" flannel, 1 1/4 yards sateen, 8 3/4 yards silver braid, 48 silver buttons, 4 1/3 yards silver soutache braid."
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main American catalog 1901 page]
[Return to the Main American catalog 1900s page]
[Main photo/publishing page]
[Store catalogs]
[Fashion magazines]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Bibliographies]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Contributions]
[Countries]
[FAQs]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor hats]
[Sailor suits]
[Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Kneepants]
[Knickers]
[Trouser suspension]
[Pinafores]
[Long stockings]
[Underwear]
