Boys did not commonly wear bows in the mid-19th century. The most common neckwear was the stock--often black. Neckwear trends changed significantkly in the 1870s. We see some boys wearing them in the 1870s. They were, however, of modest size. In the 1880s the sizes of the bows often increased and a greater variety of colors and even patterns became fashionable. The larger bows worn in the 1880s appear to be a direct result of the Fautleroy craze which swept the nation. We see boys, however, wearing floppy bows with all sorts of outfits. They were popular with Fauntleroy suits, but were also wrn with kilt suits and sack suits as well. A good example is Martin Allister Wambold, an American boy in 1886. We see the bows getting larger and larger. This apears to be largely a function of the size of the collars which also got larger and larger. Another example is an unidentified American boy in the 1890s. A good example here is an unidentified American boy in the 1890s.

The 1870s

Boys did not commonly wear bows in the mid-19th century. Neckwear was primarily stocks. The most common neckwear was the stock--often black, although we can not be entirely sure because of the black and white photgraphy of the day. We can tell that there were not many multi-colored patterned bows. Nor do we see white bows. Socks dominated neckwear at mid-century. We see vasrious styles in the 1860s. We see some stocks being done with flouishes at the neck which began to become bows. Boys clothing was realtiverly plain in the 1870s. And collars were genrrally small. They were larger than the 1860s, but were still realtively small. Neckwear trends changed significantly in the 1870s. Stocvks disappeared. We see increasing numbers of boys wearing them in the 1870s as both collars and bows increased in size. The bows we note, however, were larger than the 1860s neckwear, but generally of modest size. And we see commonly see real bows for the first time. We see both ribbon T-bows and floppy bows. A good example of a ribbon bow is the one worn by an unidentified English boy. They are modest, but real bows.

Figure 1.--We see large floppy bows by the 1880s and they were becoming very large bu the end of the decade. This boy from Reading Pennsylvania has a bow so large that it almost covers his equally large ruffled collar. Many of the largest bows date to the 1890s.

The 1880s

In the 1880s the sizes of the bows often increased, actually exploded is a more accurate desctiption--especially in America. AZd a greater variety of colors and even patterns became fashionable. The larger bows worn in the 1880s appear to be a direct result of the Fautleroy Craze which swept ASmericva. This occured in other countries as well, but not to the extent wee see in Ameriucva. We see boys, however, wearing floppy bows with all sorts of outfits anm not just Fauntleroy suits. large collar bows were populsar with Fauntleroy suits, but were also wrn with kiklt suits and sack suits as well. A good example is Martin Allister Wambold, an American boy in 1886. While we see larger bows in the 1880s, the enormous bows of the 1890s seem even more common. A good example is Loyd Lott, an American boy in 1889. He has a large, but not enormous bow.

The 1890s

The 1890s was during the height of the Fauntleroy era. It uncolved the most elaborate dress for boys in modern history. We see more boys wearing bows than at any other times. Boows were not a required item foir the Fauntleroy style, but thet were common. We see boys with large lace and ruffled collars both with and without bows. We see the floppy bows getting even larger in the 1890s. This apears to be largely a function of the size of the collars which also got larger and larger. Another example is an unidentified American boy in the 1890s. A good example here is an unidentified American boy in the 1890s. We see boys wearing different outfits, but the same collars and bows. A good example is the Harrison boys about 1890. Generally the bows were not as large as the collars, but we note bows that almost cover the front of the collars which could be huge. While floppy bows are mostly associated with Fauntleroy outfits, we also see boys weating Fauntleroiy items like bow with plain suits.

Created: 2:30 AM 9/10/2007
Last updated: 3:46 AM 3/3/2023