Figure 1.--Here we see an Albumen print of a French boy, probably taken in the 1860s. Notice the top hat. This may have been a schoo uniform, but we are not sure. The portrit was taken in Nantes. He seems to be holding a CDV portrait album. |
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I have no information at this time about the origins of the style. I am not precisely sure when top hats first appeared. We know it was the early 19th century. We begin seeing them in the 1830s. They were the formal headwear for men during the second half of the 19th century and the eatly 20th century. We do not see many boys wearing them, but we do see some. We see a French boy in the 1860s. Another good example is a very young American boy, probably in the 1870s. The most common usage by boys was at English public schools like Eton and Harrow. We are not sure when they were first worn at these schools. The top hat declined in popularity after World War I, but was still seen in formal occassions, especially diplomatic events. I am not sure when the Eton boys stopped wearing them, perhaps World War II. The last top hat I saw was President Kennedy wearing one for his inaguration (1961).
I have no information at this time about the origins of the style. I am not precisely sure when top hats first appeared. We know it was the early 19th century. We begin seeing them in the 1830s. We do not have images of bots wearing them at ths time, but this is about wene men began wearing them. The popularity of the hts fueled the beaver trade in North America.
They were the formal headwear for men during the second half of the 19th century and the eatly 20th century. We do not see many boys wearing them, but we do see some. We see a French boy in the 1860s (figure 1). I am not sure if he is wearing a school uniform. He seems to have a ribbon on his jacket slleveso it may be a First Communion portrait.
An American boy, Arthur J. Miller, wore a top hat with a tuxedo about 1870. Another good example is a very young American boy, probably in the 1870s.
The most common usage by boys was at English public schools like Eton and Harrow. We are not sure when they were first worn at these schools. The top hat declined in popularity after World War I, but was still seen in formal occassions, especially diplomatic events.
I am not sure when the Eton boys stopped wearing them, perhaps World War II. The last top hat I saw was President Kennedy wearing one for his inaguration (1961).
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