Figure 1.-- This is a portrit of American siblings, Bud and Jan Knightif we are reading the writing on the back correctly. Thry look to be about 3-8 years old. Bud wears a traditional sailor suit. Jan wears a dress with matching ruffled collar and sleeve trim. Jan aldo has a huge hair bow, unusual in that it has a light edge. We are not sure about the color. The portrait is in undated, but was probably taken in the 1910s.

the size of hir bows varied over time. The bows we first see worn were rather small. Often they were just ribbons tied in the child's hair. This was the case during the 19th century. We see not only girls, but younger boys wearing small hair bows. The invention of photography provides us substanial evidence for the first time. As the decaded pssed, the size of the bows increased. By the turn of the Century girls were wearing quite large bow, even girls of highschool age. Some of these bows were massive, a major factor in portraits at the time. The huge hair bows were not the dominant type. but we see quite a few of them. By this time it was only girls wearing hairbows to any extent and only girls wearing the really large ones. This continued through the 1910s and into the 20s. The peak time for these hair bows, both in size and prevalence was eary in the 20th century (1910s). This was cetainly the case for the United States, but we think most other countries as well. This seems to have affect headwear trends. By the 1920s, these really large hirbows begn to disappar. We do see large ones in the Soviet union ubyo the 1980s. Girls wore iniforms to school. The pinfors could vary, but hors bows were the only really unrgulated items in which the girls could express themselves.

Small Bows

The size of hir bows varied over time. The bows we first see worn were rather small. Often they were just ribbons tied in the child's hair. This was the case during the 19th century. We see not only girls, but younger boys wearing these small hair bows. The invention of photography provides us substanial evidence for the first time.

Medium Sized Bows

As the decades passed the size of the bows increased.

Large Bows

At the turn of the 20th century, girls were wearing quite large bow, even girls of highschool age. Some of these bows were massive, a major factor in portraits at the time. The huge hair bows were not the dominant type. but we see quite a few of them. By this time it was only girls wearing hairbows to any extent and only girls wearing the really large ones. This continued through the 1910s and into the 20s. The large bows were especially common in the 1910s. The peak time for these hair bows, both in size and prevalence was early in the 20th century (1910s). We think the girl here is a godd example (figure 1). This was cetainly the case for the United States, but we think most other countries as well. This seems to have affect headwear trends. By the 1920s, these really large hairbows began to disappar. We do see large ones in the Soviet Union, especially when uniforms were required after Woirld War II. This continued into the 1980s. Girls wore iniforms to school. The pinfores could vary, but hairs bows were the only really unregulated items in which the girls could express themselves.

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Created: 2:25 AM 6/4/2021
Last updated: 2:25 AM 6/4/2021