Figure 1.--This New York boy had his portrait taken in 1889. He wears a Fauntleroy kilt suit with particukarly thick ringlets. Notice how mother has placed ome of the ringlets on the boy' shoulder so it shows up in the portrait.

Boys wore ringlets with a wide range of clothing. Some unbreeched boys wore them with dresses. We also see many boys wearing them with kilt suits, like the boy here in an undated portrait (figure 1). We would guess that it was taken in the late 1880s, but the early 1890s is a possibility. All we know is that the boy had his portrait taken in Philadelphia. He wears a kilt skirt, but not with a matching jacket which was the commom practice. Note that his velvet jacket could have just as easily been worn with kneepants making a Fauntleroy suit. In fact we doubt that jacket was purchased without a matching kilt skirt or kneepants. This could be a child prodigy or maybe just a boy about to have a recital. We are just beginning to develop information about recitals during the late 19th century. He looks pretty confident and ready to perform. He seems to be a bit old for curls and a bodice kilt. I think prodigies were often dressed younger than the actual age in order to promote their prodigy status. There are numerous images of boys wearing ringlet curls with kiltsuits, Fauntleoy suits, and even sailor suits.

Dresses

Some unbreeched boys wore them with dresses. We have archived quite a few imasges on HBC. A good example is Ralph Cope, an Indiasa boy in 1888.

Kilt Suits

We also see many boys wearing them with kilt suits, like the boy here in an undated portrait (figure 1). We would guess that it was taken in the late 1880s, but the early 1890s is a possibility. Amother example is the Philadelphia boy on the previous pasge. All we know is that the boy had his portrait taken in Philadelphia. He wears a kilt skirt, but not with a matching jacket which was the commom practice. Note that his velvet jacket could have just as easily been worn with kneepants making a Fauntleroy suit. In fact we doubt that jacket was purchased without a matching kilt skirt or kneepants. This could be a child prodigy or maybe just a boy about to have a recital. We are just beginning to develop information about recitals during the late 19th century. He looks pretty confident and ready to perform. He seems to be a bit old for curls and a bodice kilt. I think prodigies were often dressed younger than the actual age in order to promote their prodigy status.

Fauntleroy Suits

There are numerous images of boys wearing ringlet curls with Fauntleoy suits. In fact the Fauntleroy suit more than any other garment becme associasted with the Fauntleroy suit. Most boys wore Fauuntleroy suits with short hair, but because of the illusyrations in the book, the assoc\iation was stroingly set.

Sailor Suits

There are numerous images of boys wearing ringlet curls with sailor suits. Sailor suits were not especially associasted with sailor suits, but the sailor suit was becoming increasingly popular in the 1880s ans we thus see a number with ringlets.

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Created: 2:21 AM 6/22/2008
Last edited: 2:21 AM 6/22/2008