Figure 1.-- As was common at the time, "costume" is used to describe the garment rather than a more descriptive term that would help classify the garment. The Dileneator goes in to great detail about the construction of the garment, but really never tells us just what it is. It looks to us like a warm, stlish overcoat which would make sence for the September issue.

The Delieator wa a major source of information throughout the 1880s. It was a particularly important siurce of the patterns used in home sewing. The patterns as best we can determine were rather dressy. But clothing conventions in the the late 19th century tended to be rather formal. The outfits also seem to be outfits that would have been worn by children from affluent families. This suggests that many affluent families had their clothing made in shops or by individual women who swered. Other may have used sevants. The Delineator divided the patterns into three sections: 1) women and misses, 2) cjildren (little boys and girls), and 3) men and boys.

1880

September 1880

Here are the articles covering children's and boys' fashions in the September 1880 issue. They are basically discussions of various garments, most of which are illustrated. The garments were not being offered for sale. Rather the patterns were what was being sold. The"Styles for children began on page 134. As a September issue, the fashions emphasize the warm garments that would be needed for the upcoming cold winter wetrher. The children's clothing was divided into three sections: 1) girls and misses, 2) childrens (meaning younger boys and girls), and 3) boys.

Figure No. 1--Child's costume

This article was on page 134. The illustration for the garment was on page 135. The title is "Child's costume", but the text clearly refers to a boy. As was common at the time, "costume" is used to describe the garment rather than a more descriptive term that would help classify the garment. We are not entirely sure how to classify this garment. But as explained in the Delineator ad copy, it seems to bea coat. But it seems to be a coat with a destinctive skirt made to be worn with a dress or other skirted garment like the kilt suits which was popular at the time. The Delineator text read:

Figure 2--Child's costume

This article appeared on page 134--page 135 of the Delineator September 1980 issue. The illustration was on page 135. As was common at the time, "costume" is used to describe the garment rather than a more descriptive term that would help classify the garment. The Delineator goes in to great detail about the construction of the garment, but really never tells us just what it is. The garment is made to look similar to a kilt suit, but is a one piece garment. Thus it is a dress. We might describe it as a dress in suit form. The ad copy does not speify a boy or girl so presumably it could be worn by either. It may have been more popular for boys, but we are not certain about this. The Delineator text read:

Figure 3--Child's coat costume

This article appeared on page 135 of the Delineator September 1880 issue. The illustration was on page 136. As was common at the time, "costume" is used to describe the garment rather than a more descriptive term that would help classify the garment. The Delineator goes in to great detail about the construction of the garment, but really never tells us just what it is. It looks to us like a warm, stlish overcoat which would make sence for the September issue. The ad copy tells us that it could be worn with a dress whivh would make it a coat. It also could be worn with just a petticoat which would make it more of a suit-styled dress. The Delineator text read:

No. 7186--Child's costume

This article appeared on page 136 of the Delineator September 1880 issue. The illustration was on page 137. As was common at the time, "costume" is used to describe the garment rather than a more descriptive term that would help classify the garment. The Delineator goes in to great detail about the construction of the garment, but really never tells us just what it is. It looks rather like a kilt suit, but as far as e can tell was consrtucted more like a dress in one piece. This can be seen best in the back view.

No. 7187--Child's coat, with cape

This article appeared on page 135-136 of The Delineator September 1880 issue. The illustration was on page 136. As this was a pure outer garment, the word "costume" was not used. "Costime" was comminly used to mean suit. Some garments could be used as both suits and coats. This was an overcoat with an attached capes. Capes were considered stylish in the 1880s and were orn by adults and children.

No. 7181--Child's Coat

Garment No. 7181 is a child's coat, meaning it could be worn by a boy or girl, 1-6 years of age. It is an outer garment made in the style of a ladies' coat. Note the skirted look of the lower portion of the coats. It blouses out to accomodate a fress or other skirted garment. Boys of this age commonly wore skirted garments at the time. This article appeared on page 136 of the Delineator September 1880 issue. The illustration was on page 137.

1881

1882

1883

1884

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Created: 10:12 PM 1/14/2008
Last updated: 10:13 PM 1/14/2008