Figure 1.--This little American boy was from Nebraska. The image is undate, but we would guess about 1890. Note the large striped collar and matching wrist trim, but a rather small bow.

The collars on plaid dresses varied over time. We have little information on these collars before the 1870s when cllars were geneally small. Younger boys and girls of various ages might wear low-cut dresses. These dresses were done without any collars at all. A variety of collars were used on these dresses, but the most common type in the photohraphic record were lace and ruffled collars. These began to reach considerable size in the 1880s. The dresses were also made with collars out of the same material as the dress itself.

Low Cut Dresses

Younger boys and girls of various ages might wear low-cut dresses. These dresses were done without any collars at all. A godd example is an unidentified American boy, we believe in the 1850s.

Lace Collars

Beginning in the 1880s, plaid dresses appeared with the popular lace collars. The white of the collar contrasted with the colored plaid. Often they were plain dresses with few other stylistic details. The collars varied greatly in size and the quality of the lace. Often lace collars for boys had vaiated edges rather than plain rounded collars, but this was not always the case.

Plain Collars

The dresses were also made with collars out of the same material as the dress itself.

Ruffled Collars

We note ome plaid dresses with the same uffled collars that boys wore with Fauntleroy suits. These collars are almost always white. We have noted, however, some lightly striped collars.

Other Collars

Created: November 14, 2002
Last updated: 2:20 AM 3/23/2007