Hair Bows Worn by Italian Boys

I have little information on Italian styles for boys hair. I hope to eventually acquire information, but there seems to be little Italian activity on the internet. Language is probably a priblem.

Breeching

Italian mothers in the 19th Century commonly dressed small boys in dresses, as was the practice throughout Europe. I have no details on when boys were generally breeched in Italy.

Figure 1.--This Italian boy in a image taken about 1890 wears a double-breasted suit with sailor suit styling. Note the curls and hair bow.

Italian mothers appeared to have generally resisted cutting their sins hair before breeching. As a result, many boys appears to have worn long hair well after breeching. This appears to have been a particularly common practice with wealthy families. This practice cintinued into the 20th Century and did not go out of style until the First World War (1914-18).

Hair Styles

It appears that Italian mothers were particularly enamored of leaving their sons in long hair. Some mothers curled the long hair of their boys, but curling may not have been as popular as in the United States.

Hair Bows

Itlakian mothers appear to have been particularly enamored of tieing hair bows into their sons long hair. This pratice was most common after the turn of the 19th Century as hair bows grew in popularity with girls. Many mothers, especially wealthy mothers, thought the fashion was also stylish for their sons. As rich people set fashions in the 19th Century, it is likely that many middle class mothers also aopted this custom.




Christopher Wagner

histclo@lycosmail.com



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Created: June 1, 1999
Last updated: September 4, 1999