Figure 1.--Here we see four girls from Wichita, Kansas. This charming portrait is not dated, but we believe was taken in the 1910s--probably the early-10s. The girls look to be about 5-16 years old. Notice how fany their dresses are. Also notice the large hair bows. The studio was Standard in Wichita.

Although stylistic changes began during the 1910, well-to-do women wore fancy dresses and so did their daughters. We see the same fancy outfits and elaborate hats, although hair bows, sometimes gigantic, became extraordinarily popular with girls, including teenagers (1910s). Girls conducted a virtual arms race to see who could have the largest bow. We also see a variety of hats, some highly decorated. Up turned brims were popular. Long hair was praised. All girls wore skirted garments. Dresses were virtually the only basic garment girls wore. Dresses at the beginning of the decade could like the 1900s decade be very fancy with many embellishments. As the decade progressed, we see a move toward greater simplicity even before the outbreak of World War I. Younger girls were beginning to wear dresses that were increasingly plain, looking less like small verions of their moth's dresses. A good example is the smock dress, often worn with a pinafore This had been popular since the 1890s and girls including teenagers continued to wear them, especially during the first half first half of the decade. We begin to see girls wearing shorter cut dresses during the second half of the decade. One source attributes this to material rationing adopted during the war. Dresses not only were shorter, but were plainer with less fancy decoration and fewer embellishment. One fashion historian writes, "By around the WWI era, many girls were wearing plainer dresses that ended above the knee (often showing long knickers underneath!), were fitted at the waist and had three-quarter length sleeves." 【Moore】 Virtually the only exception were the bloomers girls wore for high school gym. While the dress was the basic woman's garment, working women tended to wear a blouse and skirt. At school we see far more girls wearing dresses than blouses and skirts. Stretchy, knitted fabrics were becoming popular for boys and girls. The most prominent garment we note are sweaters. While most popular for boys, we see girls wearing them as well. The 1910s is the first decade that we see large numbers of sweaters. Knitted garments were comfortable, allowing ed for greater freedom of movement. Many mothers knitted them at home. Long stockings were standard hosiery. Both boys and girls wore black long stockings, the girls and younger boys sometimes also wore white stockings. Another exception was Scouting. Footwear was more varied than that of the boys. We see both low-tops and high top shoes. All this began to change with World War I (1914-18). The War emergency made the frivolity of pre-War fashion seem absurd. And for the first time we see women wearing pants which became very common in war plants. Women and girls worked in mills, industrial factories were the mainstay of men and boys--but by the 1910s boys were being phased out. And in factories women wore work clothes--commonly pants. This was not yet common for girls. Such practical matters rose in importance and we begin to see affecting fashion after the War.

Sources

Moore, Jess. "Family potos: What are they wearing?,” internet blog findmypast.co.uk (May 24, 2011).

Created: 4:52 PM 10/4/2025
Last updated: 4:52 PM 10/4/2025