|
Blouses were very common for boys in the early-20th century. We see boys wearing blouses, usually with knee pants and black long stockings in the photographic record. Although not much seen in the photograhic record, boys commonly went barefoot. We still see boys wearing fancy blouses with large collars in the early 20th century. Many of the blouses we see are Faumtleroy blouses. Fauntleoy suits were becoming less common, but we still see lage numbers of portaits with boys wearing Fauntleroy blouses. Boys up to about age 12 commonly wore the blouses. Older boys did not geneally wear Fauntleroy suits, but school age-boys still commonly wore blouses with large often ruffled collars. Boys might wear blouses both with and without without suit jackets at the turn of the century. Many boys wore these blouses with large collars without jackets, especially during the warm summer weather. Men were still expected to wear suit jackets. Boys on the other hand commonly wore just blouses. A good example is Ellsie, Ellenor, and Nelson their little brother who was 6 years old from Lewenton, Maine in 1903 (figure 1). Another example is an unidetified American boy. Blouses were very common for boys in the 1990s. A good example is John Conway in 1906. The Fauntleroy blouses varied in many ways. We see fancy collars with large collars, some trimmed with lace. We also see large collars, but without fancy trim. good example is an unidentified Texas boy about 1905. We see all the boys in the Johnson family in Illinois wearing large ruffeled collars and floppy bows in 1907. Fauntleroy blouses were not the only blouses. Eton collars were still worn. And we see Peter Pan and other large collars appear at the turn-of-the 20th century. Many of these were detachable collars worn with shirt waists. Fauntleroy collars in contrast were sewn on to the blouses.
Blouses were very common for boys in the early-20th century. We see many boys wearing blouses in the 1900s. Sailor and Fauntleroy blouses were the two most commo styles. And we see see mamy boys wearing them. Sailor blouses might bev worn for every day and for dressing up. Faintleroy blouses included fancy ones worm worn for sunday and formal occassions. We also see Fauntlroy bloudes in ordinary cotton fabric and without the elaborate lace trim and ruffles. that were not only worn for dressing up but for some casual occassions. They were not the only blouse styles. Eton collars were still worn, but they were normally detachable collars. And we see Peter Pan and other large collars appear at the turn-of-the 20th century. We also see large collars, but without fancy trim. A good example are the large collars worn unidentified Texas boys about 1905. Many of these were detachable collars worn with shirt waists. Others just had Eton or Peter Pan-shaped collars. Often these were attached to the blouses. Many of the blouses we see are Faumtleroy blouses. Fauntleoy suits were becoming less common, but we still see lage numbers of portaits with boys wearing Fauntleroy blouses. A good example is John Conway in 1906.
They usually wore blouses with knee pants and black long stockings in the photographic record. Although not much seen in the photograhic record, boys commonly went barefoot.
Boys might wear blouses both with and without without suit jackets at the turn of the century. Many boys wore these blouses with large collars without jackets, especially during the warm summer weather. Men were still expected to wear suit jackets. Boys on the other hand commonly wore just blouses. A good example is Ellsie, Ellenor, and Nelson their little brother who was 6 years old from Lewenton, Maine in 1903 (figure 1). Here age was a factor. The youngr a boy was, the more likely he was to just wear a blouse rather than a jacket. This all varied from family to family. Fortunately after the appearance of the Kodak Brownie, we now have family snaphots to help with our asessments. And what we see in studio portraits may not be the general pattern in actual activities beyond the studio. We seem to see older boys just wearing blouses in snap shots and more wearing jackets in portraits. We still see more portraitsc than snapshots in the 1900s decade, but by the 1910s decade we see more and more family snapshots. Boys wear including blouses also varied seasonally. As the weather got cooler, jackets behan to be worn miore, inckludung by younger boys.
Boys up to about age 12 commonly wore blouses. The younger boys wore very fancy Fauntleroy blouses. A good example is an unidetified American boy. Older boys did not geneally wear Fauntleroy suits, but school age-boys still commonly wore blouses with large often ruffled collars.
Fauntleroy collars were normally sewn on to the blouses. Almost all the large ruffled collars were part of the blouse, often with matching fancy wrist cuffs. Mant were done with back flaps like a sailor blouse. Lace collars were less common and smaller. They were usually done as pin on or tie on collars.
We see Many boys wearing blouses in the 1900s. The two most popular styles were sailor and Fauntleroy blouses. The sailor blouuses could vary. The V-front style was nearly universal. And the two or three stripe detailing was becoming increasingly prevalent. We also see large numbers of boys wearin Faunrleroy blouses. The Fauntleroy blouses of the 1900s varied in many ways. We see fancy blouses with large ruffled collars, some trimmed with lace. We see some fancy blouses with lace trim done in linen or even silk. The were commonly worn by younger boys. The ruffled varried. Some were more palin while others were highly ruffled. Almost always the lace trim was cutout lace. The fancy trim was located in three area, including the collar, down the front in a pannel, and around the buttons, and the sleeve wrist cuffs. Normally the styling was coordinated. These three areas varied in style and shape. The collars varied in size and shape. The larger collars extended over the shoulders. Normally the collar front was rounded and the back was done as a back flap like a sailor blouse. The shape of the back flap on these Fauntleroy blouses was not always rectangular like a sailor blouse. The one here seems more like an oval (figure 1). Also notice the length of the cuffs. They extend almost to the boy's elbow. There are many example in the photographic record of boys weaing these blouses. A good example is the boys in the Johnson family in Illinois wearing large ruffled collars and floppy bows in 1907. Lace collars were more varied, but we see fewer lace collars among the fancy collars in the 1900s. We akso see less elegant Fauntleroy vessels donr in mmore cordinatry cotton fabric. This style of Fauntlroy blouses were worn by older boys.
Floppy bows were part of the fauntkeroy Caze (1885-1905). They were an optionl part, but commony worn. Fauntleroy blouses could be exteemely decortibe, and floppy bows were hardly needed, but mothers loved them./ Floppy bows were optional with Faimtleroy blouses. We see colored, pattened, ans white bows. Floppy bows worn with blouses with blouses couild be huge in the 1880s and 90s and were wirn by school-age boys. They were part of the Fauntleroy craze. We still see large bows at the turn of the century, but mostly om the very early-1900s decade. We soon see by the end of the 1900s decade somewhat smaller bows were more common. There were also less elborate Fauntleroy blouses worn vy older bioys which might be wirn with these boiws, but this became less common fter yhe turn-of-the century. These bows were not just worn wuth Fauntleoy blouses. Mothers might add them to sailor blouses or Buster Brown outfits. We also see older boys wearing these bows with regular suits and less elborate bloues, even detachble Eton collars. The boys we see wearung the boys were increasing tyounger and the size of the bow declining, especilly after mid-decade, but we continue seeing the bows thrughout the decade.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main American 20th century blouse page]
[Return to the Main American blouse page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
