Figure 1.--These brothers were from Baltimore, Martland. The cabinent card portrait looks to have been taken in the 1890s. These are some of the largest Eton collars we have found. |
|
We note Eton collars in many different sizes. I think the term Eton collar was primarily related to the shape of the collar. There were, however, other characteistics of a true Eton collar so some of the really small and large collars might not be precisely called an Eton collar, but they shaped like Eton collars. We see very small examples in the 1850s when collar sizes were especially small. And we see very large examples in the 1890s when large collars were popular. Some boys wore gigantic collars in the late-19th century. Usually these were ruffled collars. large Eton collars were much less common. The large collars were not as common as the small collars. And they did not stand up like the classic, stiff starched Wton collar. Instead the large collars lay down on the shoulders. We see mostly mid-range collars in the 20th century. We continue to see large detachabke collars into the the 1930s. The Tucker boys in 1937 are a good example. Rgis was, howeever, beginning to change. We see younger boys wearing the the small attached collared blouses worn with junior Eton suits in the mid-20th century. These blouses were fairly standard by the 1940s. A good example is the Keefer boys, we think in the 1940s.
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main U.S. Eton collar page]
[Return to the Main Eton collar page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Photography]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[Essays]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1840s]
[The 1850s]
[The 1860s]
[The 1870s]
[The 1880s]
[The 1890s]
[The 1900s]
[The 1910s]
[The 1920s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Long pants]
[Knickers]
[Short pants]
[Scottish kilts]
[School uniform]
[Sailor suits]
[Eton suits]
[Ring bearer/page costumes]