Figure 1.--This Harford, Connecticut boy wears an Eton collar with what looks like a kilt suit, but it is a little difficult to tell. He wear his Eton collar with a floppy bow. The porteait was probably taken about 1890. Note the short hair cut and his hat to the right.

Boys in the 19th Century commonly wore dresses or kilt suits until they were 5 or 6 years of age, sometimes even older. The dresses employed a variety of collars and necklines. Eton collars were rarely employed, but we do occassionally see them. Dress collars were extreemly varied. Some did not even have collars. Whle Eton collar dresses were not very common, we do occassionaly see them. One example is an unidentified Massachuseetts boy, probably in the 1880s. The different collars employed with kilt suits did sometimes include an Eton collar. This was not extreemly common, but more common than for dresses. Boys in kilt suits often had a fancy lace or ruffled collar, deemed more suitable for younger boys. These suits were not really kilt suits, but rather skirted suits and not worn with Highland regalia. Some American boys also wore Scottish kilts in the late 19th century. While not as commonly as in Britain. President Franklin Roosevelt as a boy, for example, wore Scottish kilts. This was not because of any Scottish heritages. The Roosevelts were a Dutch family. These were different from the so called kilt suit in that they were reconizeable bright Scottish plaids and included full Highland regalia. These outfits were worn with a variety of collars, including Eton collars. We have noted many tunic outfits worn with wide white collars. They were done in various shapes and sizes. Among the different types were Eton collars. Tunic suits became very popular for boys at the turn of the 20th century. The tunic suit was an adaptable garment. They were made for both play and dress wear. They were made in many styles, including Russian blouses, sailor, Buster Brown, and others. The sailor tunic had their own destinctive collar style. Other tunics could be worn with varied collats. Peter Pan collars were especially popular, but we have noted some boys weaing Eton collars with these tunics as well. The Eton collar would have been worn with a tunic suit when dressng up. Ir would have been a detable collar added for formal occassions.

Dresses

The dresses employed a variety of collars and necklines. Eton collars were rarely employed, but we do occassionally see them. Dress collars were extreemly varied. Some did not even have collars. Whle Eton cillar dresses were not very common, we do occassionaly see them. One example is an unidentified Massachuseetts boy, probably in the 1880s. This boy wears his Eton collar with a floppy bow. We do not yet know how common that was.

Kilt Suits

The different collars employed with kilt suits did sometimes include an Eton collar. This was the skirted garments that boys were most likely to wear with Eton collars. We have archieved quite a few boys wearing kilt suits with Eton collars, buthis is because the American photograpic record is so large. Eton collars were a a small part ofc the collars we see being wirn with kilt suits. The Connecticut boy here is a good example (figure 1). Another example also from the 1890s was Harry Houston. This was not extreemly common, but more common than for dresses. Boys in kilt suits often had a fancy lace or ruffled collar, deemed more suitable for younger boys, butbwe still see some Eton collars. These suits were not really kilt suits. They were more accurately skirted suits, but the popular term was kilt suit. Despite the term used, they were not worn with Highland regalia.

Scottish kilts

Some American boys also wore Scottish kilts in the late 19th Century. This was much more common in Britain. While not as commonly as in England. President Franklin Roosevelt as a boy, for example, wore Scottish kilts. This was not because of Scottish heritages. The Roosevelts were a Dutch family. These were different from the so called kilt suit in that they were reconizeable bright Scottish plaids and included full Highland regalia. These outfits were worn with a variety of collars, including Eton collars.

Tunics

We have noted many tunic outfits worn with wide white collars. They were dobe in various shapes and sizes. Among the different types were Eton collars. Tunic suits became very popular for boys at the turn of the 20th century. The tunic suit was an adaptable garment. They were made for both play and dress wear. They were mde in many styles, including Russian blouses, sailor, Buster Brown, and others. The sailor tunic had their own destinctive collar style. Other tunics could be worn with varied collats. Peter Pan collars were especially popular, but we have noted some boys weaing Eton collars with these tunics as well. The Eton collar would have been worn with a tunic suit when dressng up. Ir would have been a detable collar added for formal occassions. A good example id Harold Howes in 1905.

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Created: 5:50 PM 9/13/2007
Last updated: 5:50 PM 9/13/2007