Figure 1.--His Royal Higness Prince Leopold of Belgium (the future Leopold III) in a photograph taken before World War I. Note the large, elaborate fune lace collar

Quite a number of photographs show Leopold and his brother wearing large, open collar blouses to a fairly advanced age. We believe that they are blouses--although it is possible that they could be pinned on collars. Some appear to have matching wrist trim. They always seemed to have these often large, but comfortable looking open collars. Some were famcy while others are rather plaon if very large. Some were ruffled and others were delicte lace. I have not noticed them wearing fancy closed collor blouses or blouses with bows. Their mothers seems to have been very fond of these fancy blouses with ruffled collars, lace, or other fancy work. Many of these blouces seem to have very large, rather childish collars. The boys look to still be wearing them at about 13 or so. We are not prescisely sure what the conventions were for wearing these blouses. Presumably these were outfits for special occassions, but we are rather surprised they did not wear more formal suits for formal occassions.

Conventions

Quite a number of photographs show Leopold and his brother wearing large, open collar blouses. We are not sure just what the conventions were for these outfits. Were they just for formal occassions or did they commonly wear them. Some seem fancy, but rather casual. We know that they were often worn for portraits, vut we do no know on what other occassions they were worn. We are not prescisely sure what the conventions were for wearing these blouses. Presumably these were putfits for special occassions, but we are rather surprised they did not wear more formal suits for formal occassions. While fancy some of these blouses look almost like play suits--although Leopold and his brother are too old for play suits in many of the portraits.

Age

Most of the available portraits are unfortunately undated. Thus we do not know at what age Leopold wore these blouses. It is apparent that he wore them to a fairly advanced age. The boys look to still be wearing them at about 13 or so. That would mean he was weating them in 1914, the year the Germans invaded Belgium lauching World War I. Perhaps that was the last year, as the War may have call for more austere attire. We note that by 1916, Leopold is wearing an army field uniform. Quite a contrast to these fancy blouses he appears to have been wearing in 1913 or even 14--the year the War nroke out.

Garments

We believe that these fancy collars are part of blouses--although it is possible that they could be pinned on collars. Some of the blouses are worn with jackets so it is difficult to see the blouse, except for the collar. Many times, however, Leopold wears the blouse with the jacket. All seem to be long-sleeve blouses.

Wrist Trim

Some of Leopold's blouses appear to have matching wrist trim. Many available portraits only show the collar, so we do not have complete information here.

Collars

They always seemed to have these often large, but comfortable looking open collars. The neck ipenings vary. Some are small while others are quite large. Some were famcy while others are rather plain if very large. Some were ruffled and others were delicte lace. I have not noticed them wearing fancy closed collor blouses or blouses with bows. Their mothers seems to have been very fond of these fancy blouses with ruffled collars, lace, or other fancy work. Many of these blouces seem to have very large, rather childish collars.

Colors

Many of the blouses look white. Someof the blouses styled rather like play-suits with large open collars were done in colors. They look to be pastels, but we are not sure as to what colors they were done in. There may have been a variety of colors.

Created: May 15, 2002
Last updated: May 15, 2002