Figure 1.--This photograph shows an English boy wearing a wool sailor suit with ringlet curls and a very destinctibe top curl. The photograph was taken in Leamington Spa, probably in the early 1900s, judging from the style of the card. Charlie's hair is done in slightly thick ringlets. The most detinctive element of his hair is the very large top center curl formed from the hair on both side of the head. We have noted this style before, but not in such a large curl. |
This photograph shows Charlie, but we do not know his last name. He wears a wool sailor suit with ringlet curls and a very destinctibe top curl. The photograph was taken
in Leamington Spa, probably in the early 1900s, judging from the style of the card. Charlie's hair is done in slightly thick ringlets. There are no bangs. The most detinctive element of his hair is the very large top center curl formed from the hair on both side of the head. We have noted this style before, but not in such a large curl.
This portrait was proabably taken in the early 1900s, judging from the style of the card and his clothes. Both the short pants and the low-cut shoes shoes suggests that the portarit was taken in the 1900s rather than the 1890s.
The portrait was taken at Leamington Spa.
The boy's name was Charlie. Unfortunately we do not know his last name. He looks to be about 5 years old.
Charlie weas a heavy wool sailor suit, proabably made in serge. His middy blouse buttons up the front and has dark embroidered detailing. He has a contarasting white dicky with an anchor design. There is a small bow and a lanyard, presumably with a brass whistle. He seems to be wearing short pants rather than knee pants. He wears dark kneesocks with low cut shoes.
Charlie's hair is done in slightly thick ringlets. There are no bangs. The most detinctive element of his hair is the very large top center curl formed from the hair on both side of the head. We have noted this style before, but not in such a large curl.
A French reader tells us, "The top center curl of his hair is quite destinctive. I wonder if it is not the origin of the french choupette hair style. Herein France, we say " anglaises " to describe ringlet curls, meaning "English style". Perhaps the French choupette was originally an English style. I have not noted it in 19th century French portraits. I do know that the sailor suits like the boy here wears were also very popular in France and they originated in England. The short pants style with formal color such grey or blue dark and with the legs not too short is called " culotte anglaise " (English shorts) even still to this day in France. They are generaly worn to day by the boys participating in formal weddings. Note that around 1950; French boys normally wore suits with short pants wich might be often very short for the wedding or beautifull occasions. For such occasions, a mother might do her son's hair in a choupette, of course, if his hair had not been cut too short. I think that the boys of the bourgeoisie or influential families often had hair long enough for the choupette. Dispite the fashion to day is with the very short hair for the boys; it is current in the rich part of Paris to meet boys with the " coupe anglaise "
The coupe anglaise ( English cut ) consist with rather long hair on the top untill the level of the ears and then short hair lower. This cut emphasis the class of the boy. My granson has at the present time such a such cut and I adore him in this look. This cut can be worn by both very young boys as well as by the young teeagers."
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