Figure 1.--Here we see an unidentified American girl enjoying a park outing with her trike, perhaps in New York's Central Park. The girls ringlet curls were done in loose curls. Long hair and hair bows were all the rage in the 1910s. We would guess the photograph was taken about 1915.

There were of course major differences chronologically in the popularity of different styles. Following these styles, especially for children is a little diificult before the invention of photography. Fashion historians primarily focus on women's fashions amd hor styling. There is some attention to men's fashions, but relatively little to children. Er have collected some information. Until the 19th century, children's fashions were for the most part simply the sized down versions of their parents fashions. The same tended to be the case for hair styles. This was not quite the same when wigs became important (beginning in the late-17th century). It was a fashion largely emerging from the French court and ending there with the French Revolution (1789). It was a style only those in comfortable circumtsance could aford. Americans were not as affected, but the well-to-do in the colonies, especially the men, were affected in the 18th century. The wigs for women in Europe, especially European courts were unbelieveable. Children did not wear wigs. Some of the royals may have begun wearing wigs in their early teens, but we do not see that in America. Wigs disappeared with the turn-of-the century. We do not know much about hair styles in the early-19h century yet, but thanks to photography we by mid-centyry can follow hair styling in great detail. America did invent photography, but no country took to photography like Americans. And as a result their is a massive photographic record to draw on. What we see at mid-century girls with whay looks light short hair as we see on the previous page. A good example is an unidentified girl in 1857. Their mothers had their hair done into buns. This was less common for girls. With the 1860s we see long hair becoming increasinly common for girls. There were several different styles. We note hair bows, some time enormous were epecially popular in the 1910s (figure 1). Major changes came with World War I. Simple practical fashions emerged along with comparable hair styles in the Roaring Twenties (1920s). We see girls short, bobbed hair givin a slightly boyish look. A pixie look was very fashionable for younger women. Women liked waved styles, but this was less common for girls. These short styles were easier to maintain than long hair. This symbolized a new independent, free-spirit for women. Hollywood emerged as a major trend setter rather than royal families and wealthy families. This changed somewhat in the 1930s, we see a little longer styles hair slightly such as pageboys, bobs, or waves and curls. We see women with femine more romantic styles echoing fim stars. Girls were also affected by Hollywood. Shirley Temple curls became all the rage. World War II dominated the 40s putting fashion on abeyance. We recall pigtails as being very popular in the 40s. Boys liked to dip them into ink wells--a ltime-honored gtradition that disappeared with the ball point pens of the 1950s. The 1950s was an era of unbrialed prosperity. We see girls' hair at mid-lengh. We see short modern cuts such as the pixie cut in the 60s. Longer hair was stylish in the 70s amd we see boys wearing long hair as well. This began with with the mop cuts of the Beatles in the 60s, but in the 70s many boys wore their hair down to their shoulders. We see both boys and girls with long, straight hair. Girl's styles were influence by the increasing move of women into the workplace meaning simple to maintain hair style were needed. Pony tails were popular. Since the 1970s we see both boys and girls wearing a wide variety of stes, much less conormity than was the case earlier. We see pulled back styles with scrunchies. Stretchy ponytail holders made from cloth over fabric bands were popular. Claw-style barrettes secured ponytails. There were fully and partially upswept styles.

The 17th Century

European settklement of Nort america began (early-17th century). Until the 19th century, children's fashions were for the most part simply the sized down versions of their parents fashions. The same tended to be the case for hair styles. This was not quite the same when wigs became important (beginning in the late-17th century).

The 18th Century

Wigs were a fashion largely emerging from the French court and ending there with the French Revolution (1789). It was a style only those in comfortable circumtsance could aford. Americans were not as affected, but the well-to-do in the colonies, especially the men, were affected in the 18th century. The wigs for women in Europe, especially European courts were unbelieveable. Children did not wear wigs. Some of the royals may have begun wearing wigs in their early teens, but we do not see that in America. Wigs disappeared with the turn-of the century.

The 19th Century

We do not know much about hair styles in the early-19th century yet, but thanks to photography we by mid-century can follow hair styling in great detail. America did invent photography, but no country took to photography like Americans. And as a result there is a massive photographic record to draw on. Generally speaking girls had long hair and boys short hair. But this was not a hard set rule. Styles varied throughout the decade. boys and men wore their hair longer in the first half of the century. And throuughout the century ewe see girls with short hair. What we see at mid-century girls with what looks light short hair as we see on the previous page. A good example is an unidentified girl in 1857. Their mothers had hair done into buns. This was less common for girls. With the 1860s we see long hair becoming increasinly common for girls. There were several different styles. We see some girls with short hair, but they were a minority. In some cases it may have bee a halth measure to combat hair lice. Girls definitly saw long hair as an element of beauty and wanted long styles even though it was time comsuming to maintain. Assessing children's hair styles is complicated in part because, many younger boy were dressed in skirted garments and had a range of long hair styles. his is especially the case in the 1880s and 90s because of the Fauntleroy craze. Suddently many boys had theur hair styled with rtinglet curls. As a result, it becomes difficult to assess gender in many 19th century portraits.

The 20th Century

We cominue to see girls with long hair in the early-20th century. We note hair bows, some time enormous ones, were epecially popular in the 1910s (figure 1). Major changes came with World War I. Simple practical fashions emerged along with comparable hair styles in the Roaring Twenties (1920s). We see girls short, bobbed hair givin a slightly boyish look. A pixie look was very fashionable for younger women. Women liked waved styles, but this was less common for girls. These short styles were easier to maintain than long hair. This symbolized a new independent, free-spirit for women. Hollywood emerged as a major trend setter rather than royal families and wealthy families. This changed somewhat in the 1930s, we see a little longer styles hair slightly such as pageboys, bobs, or waves and curls. We see women with femine more romantic styles echoing fim stars. Girls were also affected by Hollywood. Shirley Temple curls became all the rage. World War II dominated the 40s putting fashion on abeyance. We recall pigtails as being very popular in the 40s. Boys liked to dip them into ink wells--a ltime-honored gtradition that disappeared with the ball point pens of the 1950s. The 1950s was an era of unbrialed prosperity. We see girls' hair at mid-lengh. We see short modern cuts such as the pixie cut in the 60s. Longer hair was stylish in the 70s amd we see boys wearing long hair as well. This began with with the mop cuts of the Beatles in the 60s, but in the 70s many boys wore their hair down to their shoulders. We see both boys and girls with long, straight hair. Girl's styles were influence by the increasing move of women into the workplace meaning simple to maintain hair style were needed. Pony tails were popular. Since the 1970s we see both boys and girls wearing a wide variety of stes, much less conormity than was the case earlier. We see pulled back styles with scrunchies. Stretchy ponytail holders made from cloth over fabric bands were popular. Claw-style barrettes secured ponytails. There were fully and partially upswept styles.

Created: 2:02 AM 5/15/2019
Last updated: 2:03 AM 5/15/2019