Blouses: Chronology--Late 19th Century


Figure 1.--Here we see American children from Sturgis, Michigan. We think the girl's name was Ida. While white was the most common color for blouses, here we see boys wearing matching dark colored blouses. Note the wide ruffled collars and polka dot floppy bows. Both boys wear kneesocks and long stockings. The portrait is undated, but we would guess the late 1890s.

Boys at the mid-19th century usually wore blouses rather than shirts, Most of the blouses were solid colors, although striped were also worn. Middy blouses became popular in the 1870s and fancy Fautleroy blouses in the 1880s. Quite a range of blouses were made for boys. The sizes were commonly made beginning about size 4 as this was the age that many parents began to breech boys. The most common ages for this was 4-5 years. Blouse sizes run to age 14, although the fancu styles with ruffles commonly to size 12.

Conventions

Boys at the mid-19th century usually wore blouses rather than shirts. In fact the term "shirt waists" was much more commonly used at the time than "shirts".

Colors

Most of the blouses were solid colors. White was the most common color, but we have seen other colors as well. It is difficult to judge from the black and white photographs just what colors were involved. Stripes were also worn and we have also noted polka dots. .

Collars

Boys' blouses in the late 19th century were made in a wise variety of styles. Many blouses, even for younger boys, were made with small simple collars. Other blouses even for boys up to 12 years old were made with very large collars and ruffle trim. White collars were popular, but of modest size.

Styles

Middy blouses became popular in the 1870s and fancy Fautleroy blouses in the 1880s. A good example is an unidentified American boy in the 1890s. Quite a range of blouses were made for boys. Styles with large collars were widely worn by boys up to 10-12 years of age.

Sizes

The sizes were commonly made beginning about size 4 as this was the age that many parents began to breech boys. The most common ages for this was 4-5 years. Blouse sizes run to age 14, although the fancu styles with ruffles commonly to size 12.

Catalogs

Catalog advertisements provide a great deal of useful information about the blouses worn by boys in the late 19th century. They had etails that are not available by simply studying available photograpic evidence.







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Created: March 24, 2001
Last updated: 5:07 AM 12/28/2005