Figure 1.--These American sisters wear matching dresses with large contrasting Peter Pan collars, we think in the early-1970s. Shorter hem lines became stylish. Notice the white knee socks. They were popular for girls, often worn with strap shoes. Traditional outfits like this were still worn, but as a result of a combination of Hippies and Feminists as well as other developments, the 1970s ushered in umprecedented freedom for girls, both in fashion as well as society in general. We see many girls chosing to wear jeans and other pants, even to school. Click on the image for more information about the 1970s.

We have only begun our assessment of American girls clothes. We hope to eventually have a detailed chronology. For centuries children were dressed like small versions of their parents. This was the case for both boys and girls. For girls this meant wearing dresses styled just like those of their motyhers, including both styles and fearures such as sleeves, collars, waislines, and hem lines. Girls had the sme hemlines as their mothers. This did not begin to change until the 18th century. Changes in the 18th century were modest and related primarily to clothing technology. The principal change was the dedvelopment of the technology to produce low-cost cotton textiles, This had eprofound consequences in partr because people at the time spent far more of their income on clothing than is the case today. But these new light-weight cootion fabrics were especially suitable for children, although such clothing appeared only slowly. These changes primarily occurred in Europe but affected the American colonies as well as the clothing/textile industry and after independence the new United States also pursued its own industrial revolution which as in England was first focused primarily on textiles. The first dedicated children's clothing was the skeleton suits boys began wearing in the late-18th century. Dedicated girls' clothing first appeared in the early-19th century. Here boys' clothing was the earliest styles to developed. The skeleton suit was followed by tunics in the early-19th century. We also see boys wearing short jackets and trousers. Dedicated girls styles were slower to develop, but we do see girls wearing aprons and pinafores made with the new cotton fabrics. This continued througout the 19th century. Girls continued wearing dresses styled like their mothers, but hem lines began to change. Women wore dresses with long hemlines. Girls were allowed to wear dresses with more practical, shorter hem lines. This was govdrnecd by age and not style in the 19th century. Girls throughout the 19th century wore either dresses or skirts. Amelia Bloomer make a splah with her bloomers, but very few girls actually wore them. All this changed in the 20th century, especially after World War I. Styles for girls became the standard. Shirley Temple popularized very short hem lines for younger girls. We see girls wearing rompers, short pants anmd long pants, at first for casual wear. As late as the 1960s girls almost always wore dresses or skirts to school.. We see girls, by the 1970s, wearing pants more and more, n all kinds of situatiions--including schools. These trends occured first in America, but gradually took hild in Europe and other areas.

The 17th Century

For centuries European children were dressed like small versions of their parents. This continued when the original English and other European colonies were founded along the Atlantic coast. This was the case for both boys and girls. For girls which meant wearing dresses styled just like those of their motyhers, including both styles and fearures such as sleeves, collars, waislines, and hem lines. Girls had the sme hemlines as their mothers.

The 18th Century

The basic pattern did not begin to change until the 18th century. Changes in the 18th century were modest and related primarily to clothing technology. The principal change was the dedvelopment of the technology to produce low-cost cotton textiles, This had eprofound consequences in partr because people at the time spent far more of their income on clothing than is the case today. But these new light-weight cootion fabrics were especially suitable for children, although such clothing appeared only slowly. These changes primarily occurred in Europe but affected the American colonies as well as the clothing/textile industry and after independence the new United States also pursued its own industrial revolution which as in England was first focused primarily on textiles. The first dedicated children's clothing was the skeleton suits boys began wearing in the late-18th century.

The 19th Century

Boys' clothing was the earliest children's styles to be developed. For centuries boys wore scaled-down versions of their father's mgarmehts. Boys from affluent families in the late-18th century began wearing skeleton suits, the first dedicated children's clothing. Dedicated girls' clothing first appeared a little later in the 19th century. Basically girls wore scalled-down versions of the same styles that their mothers were wearing. The same convention that determined what boys worefor centuries. The skeleton suit was followed by tunics in the early-19th century. We also see boys wearing short jackets and trousers. Dedicated girls styles were slower to develop, but we do see girls wearing aprons and pinafores made with the new cotton fabrics. Adult women might also wore pinafores when working, but not fancy ones like girls wore and not commonly all day. This continued througout the 19th century. Girls continued wearing dresses styled like their mothers, but hem lines began to change. Women wore dresses with long hemlines. Girls were allowed to wear dresses with more practical, shorter hem lines. This was governed by age and not style in the 19th century. And during the first hakf of the 19h cetury wore them with pantalettes that extended well below the skirts. Women might balso mwear pantalettes, but not so prominetly. Girls throughout the 19th century wore either dresses or skirts. Amelia Bloomer make a splah with her bloomers, but very few girls actually wore them--except in gym classes in the later part of the century. We see new styles like middy blouses and sailor dresses, adopting popular boys' styles.

The 20th Century

Girls fashions contiuned after the turn-of-the 20th century with only limnited changes until after World War I. Although stylistic changed, well-to-do women wore fancy dresses and so did their dughters. We see the same fancy outfits and elaborate hats, athough hairbows became very popular with hirks, including teenagers (1910s). Girls conducted a virtual arms race to see who could have the largest bow. Long hair was prised. All girls wore skirted garments. dresses. It was virtually the only basic garment girls wore. While the dress was the basic woman's harment, working women tended to wear a blouse and skirt. At school we see far more girls wearing dresses than blouses and skirts. Long stockings were standard. Both boys and girls wore black long stockings, the girls and younger boys someimes also wore white stockings. 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. Such practical matters rose in importance and we begin to see affecting fashion after the War. Women got the vote (1919) and opportunities began opening up in college and acreers. This was reflected in fashiom. Decorations became much plainer. Hair got bobbed. The new hair styles were accompanied by the helnet-like cloche hat, which closely covered the head. Skirt hemlines rose steadily to become for a time knee length (1925-27). With shorter skirts, flesh-coloured stockings were introduced. We begin to see girls wearing short pants and rompers, but only for casual summer wear. The Girl Scouts and popularity of summer camping were factors here. Long stockings declined, but did not disappear. We begin to seemore and more girls wraring socks. Shirley Temple popularized very short hem lines for younger girls as well as a return to long curls. World War II again had a fashiom impact. With men and women in uniform or war indudstries (1941–45). there was another fashion impact. Skirts again approached a practical knee length. During the War austerity meant limitations on clothing, although not as severe as in Eurppe. Again fashion did not have a high priority. We see 'utility' and the discardiung of unneeded trimmings. After World War II, we begin to see girls wearing rompers, short pants and even long pants, at first for casual wear. Girls continued wearing dresses or skirts to school. Pants become more common, although not at school for some time. We see girls, by the 1970s, wearing pants more and more. At first capri pants were popular (1950s). And we finally see pants at school. Jeans became fashionable with the invention of designer jeans (1960s). These trends occured first in America, but gradually took hold in Europe and other areas. The mini-skirt became amajor style (1970s). We do not yet have many decade pages, but we do have a 1970s decade page.

The 21st Century

Created: 1:50 AM 12/16/2011
Last updated: 3:31 AM 6/22/2020