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There was a major shift in boys' blouses during the 1860s. We see more and more boys wearing suit jackets. In the 1950s it was common for boys to have their portrait taken just wearing blouses. We see fewer boys wearing just blouses without a suit jacket. Just wearing a blouse was very common in the 1840s and even more so in the 50s, even when dressing up. And with the invention of photography we have a substantial photographic record. But suddenly in the 1860s we see most boys wearing suit jackets or matching button-on outfits. The blouses we see are button-on styles. This of course is what we see in the portraits, this may or may not reflect how boys dressed every day, but there is definitely a notable shift in the studio portraits. This makes it difficult to assess blouses in the late-19th century because so many were covered by the jackets the boys are wearing. But in the 1860s we still see quite a number of blouses in the photographic record. That said we have found a number of portraits where the boys are just wearing their blouses allowing us to assess the blouses in detail. The collars varied, but were generally small. This is why the boys wearing suit jackets generally have blouse collars that are difficult to see. Some blouses had no collar at all except a kind of neck band. the Wisconsin boy here is a good example (figure 1). Sleeves were all long, and not much varied. Some sleeves were voluminous as we see here which was a popular 1850s style. We are not yet sure about the age conventions. Younger boys wore them, but we are unsure about the upper age range. We are also not sure about gender variations. Girls mostly wore dresses. Most blouses seem to be white or light colors. We note far more colored and patterned blouses in the 1840s and 50s.
There was a major shift in boys' blouses during the 1860s. We see more and more boys wearing suit jackets. In the 1950s it was common for boys to have their portrait taken just wearing blouses. We see fewer boys wearing just blouses without a suit jacket in the 1860s. Just wearing a blouse was very common in the 1840s and even more so in the 50s, even when dressing up. And with the invention of photography we have a substantial photographic record. But suddenly in the 1860s we see most boys wearing suit jackets or matching button-on outfits.
The blouses we see are button-on styles. This of course is what we see in the portraits, this may or may not reflect how boys dressed every day, but there is definitely a notable shift in the studio portraits. This makes it difficult to assess blouses in the late-19th century because so many were covered by the jackets the boys are wearing. But in the 1860s we still see quite a number of blouses in the photographic record. As far as we can tell, buton-on styling was the major way for boys to hold up their pants in the 1860s. The boy's blouse here is a good example (figure 1). You can see the buttons at the waistline, for some reason unsually small.
That said we have found a number of portraits where the boys are just wearing their blouses allowing us to assess the blouses in detail. The collars varied, but were generally small. This is why the boys wearing suit jackets generally have blouse collars that are difficult to see. Some blouses had no collar at all except a kind of neck band. the Wisconsin boy here is a good example (figure 1). Sleeves were all long, and not much varied. Some sleeves were voluminous as we see here which was a popular 1850s style. We are not yet sure about the age conventions. Younger boys wore them, but we are unsure about the upper age range. We are also not sure about gender variations. Girls mostly wore dresses. Most blouses seem to be white or light colors. We note far more colored and patterned blouses in the 1840s and 50s.
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