Child's Sailor Dress (1890s)


Figure 1.--We also notice a sailor dress which a dealer is convinced was a 1890s boy dress, but we are not positice about this. We are not sure that this was a specifically boy dress or are we positive about the dating. Click on the image to see the back of the dress.

We also notice a sailor dress which a dealer is convinced was a 1890s boy dress, but we are not positice about this. We are not sure that this was a specifically boy dress or are we positive about the dating. We notice a lot of portraits of boys in the 1890s wersaring kilt suits, but we note far fewer wearing sailor dresses. This outfit is rather plain which does suggest a nboy might haver worn it. Girls in the 1890s tended to wear fancier dresses. The dealer writes, "Little boy's wool plaid 2 pc pleated skirt and sailor type jacket. Fabric is a blue and brown background with a mustard & cranberry plaid. Inside front of jacket is lined in red wool. Silk bow decorates the neck of jacket. No fastenings on jacket so probably pinned closed or was left open. Pleated skirt with soft pleats in the front & partial sewn down pleats on the back. Back opening that also pinned. There are some pinholes in the fabric but relatively minor. The red wool lining on the inside of jacket shows some wear but this is hidden from view. Basically a great little outfit. Skirt measures 16" long, 22" around the waist. The jacket is 16" in length. 12-1/2" across the shoulders, 26" around the chest. Guessing it would have fit a 5-6 yr old child." We asked the dealer hjow she was sure that it was a boy dress. She replied, "The style. Little boys dresses were were more simple ... if that makes sense. Many were pleated or straight skirted dresses ... not as feminine looking. Sailor collars were popular with boys although girls did wear them, too. Now, I do believe the baby & toddler both boy and girl wore pretty much the same dress but by about age 3 you can start to tell the difference in clothing between boys and girls." These vintage outfits are very helpful in showing fabric colors as all the photography at the time was done in black and white.








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Created: 10:03 PM 2/6/2005
Last updated: 10:03 PM 2/6/2005