Figure 1.--This American portrait is undated. 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 looks to be about 8 years old. This could be a child prodigy or maybe just a boy about to have a recital. 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. Image courtesy of the RG collection.

Ringlet Curls appear to have become very common in the 1880s, although only a minority of boys wore them. Many such hair styles were worn in association with the Little Lord Fauntleroy craze which began in 1885. The ringlet style for boys appeared earlier, but after the publication of Mrs. Burnett's book, it was worn by more boys, including some older boys. Many American mothers in the 1870s and early 1880s cut, albeit reluctantly, their boys' hair short even while they were still in dresses. This became somewhat less common after 1885. There are of course numerous images of boys wearing ringlet curls with kiltsuits, Fauntleoy suits, and even sailor suits. This American portrait is undated. 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 Fauntkleroy suit. In fact we doubt that jacket was ourchased without a matching kilt skirt or kneepants. his 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. A portrait of the Powell children in 1886 demonstrates the family conventions. Here it is the boy's hair done in ringlets and the girl's hair done in other styles. This was not always the case, but it was a common approach.

Popularity

Ringlet Curls appear to have become very common in the 1880s, although only a minority of boys wore them. Many such hair styles were worn in association with the Little Lord Fauntleroy craze which began in 1885. The ringlet style for boys appeared earlier, but after the publication of Mrs. Burnett's book, it was worn by more boys, including some older boys.

Age

Families varies as to when they cut their sons' hair. Some did it before or adter breeching. Others at the same time. Many American mothers in the 1870s and early 1880s cut, albeit reluctantly, their boys' hair short even while they were still in dresses. This became somewhat less common after 1885 because ringlets became so popular. We see a wider age range of boys wearing ringlets. We still see younger boys wearing them. A good example is Ralph Cope who looks to be about 3-4 years old in 1888. But we also see some older boys as well.

Clothing

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 Fauntkleroy suit. In fact we doubt that jacket was purchased without a matching kilt skirt or kneepants. his 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.

Individuals

We have many images of American boys wearing ringlet curls during the 1880s archived on HBC. A portrait of the Powell children in 1886 demonstrates the family conventions. Here it is the boy's hair done in ringlets and the girl's hair done in other styles. This was not always the case, but it was a common approach. We also notice Martin Allister Wambold in 1886.

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Created: April 13, 2004
Last edited: 9:04 PM 4/5/2010