Figure 1.--These two siblings were from Clay Center Nebraska. One may be named A.I. Marsh. They wear identical plaid dresses. The child on the right is surely a boy. The child on the left we are ubnsure about. The child may also be a boy as well.

Boys in the 19th century coomonly wore dresses when younger. The mother had a number of alternatives concerning the styles of the dresses their sons abd daughters wore. Some mothers liked to dress their children in identical or more commonly coordiated outfits. One factir here was gand-me-downs at a time when clthing was more expensive in real terms than is the case today. In the 19th Century this mean having the children wear identical dresses, at least when the boys were younger. The age for boys wearing dresses, however, varied widely from family to family. Most boys were breeched at about 5 years of age. Some boys, however, were breeched earlier and others kept in dresses longer. Some boys still wore dresses at 10 years or even on rare occasions older. Thus there were some families that had several children wearing identical or similar dresses.

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[Late 18th Century]
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Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pa ges:
[Short pants suits] [Blazers] [Lace collars [Fauntleroy suits]
[Sailor suits] [Ring bearer/page costumes] [First Communion suits]

Created: 2:42 AM 11/1/2004
Last updated: 2:42 AM 11/1/2004