Figure 1.--One source dates this Frenchb kilt suit to 1895. We do not know how it was described in France at the time. It appears to be a mixture of styles, having the look of a dress and a tunic, but we think that it most resembles a kilt suit. We note the OProust brothers in the 1890s wearing very similar outfits.

We do not yet know if many French boys wore the kilt suit fashion that was popular in America, England and other countries. The kilt suit in these countries was a major style for young boys. We notice some garments described as kilt suits. The French translation for kilt suit is "Costume kilt écossais". We do not know if this precise term was actually used. We do note some examples in the photographic record, but the styling seems different. They seem quite different than the klit suit outfits worn by American boys. Here we are not sure because the number of available 19th century images to us are very limited. French boys may have worn kilt suits like the ones worn by American boys, but at present we can not yet confirm this. Hopefully as our site develops we will be able to address this topic more fully. We also notice some outfits that have some similarity to kilt suits, but are styled differently those worn in America and England. We are noit sure just how they were described in France at the time. Some look more like dresses or tunuics than the kikt suits worn by American boys. The kilt suit here was worn about 1895 (figure 1). It is very similar to the outfits worn by the Proust brothers in the 1890s. The kilt suit was rather a plain garment and French boys in the late 19th century were often dressed in more elaborate outfits outfits. Note that the kiltsuit seen here is fancier than the plainer styles woirn by American boys. While the klitsuit itself does not appear to have been a major style for boys, we do note that sailor kilts were quite popular for younger boys in France beginning in the 1880s. We also note that while American boys wore kilt suits with long stockings, French boys were more like to wear three-quarter socks. A good example is a French boy from an aristocratic family.

Prevalence

We do not yet know if many French boys wore the kilt suit fashion that was popular in America, England and other countries. The kilt suit in these countries was a major style for young boys. We notice some garments which might be described as kilt suits being worn by French boys. Here we are not sure because the number of available 19th century images to us are very limited. French boys may have worn kilt suits like the ones worn by American boys, but at present we can not yet confirm that this waa very common. The limited number of images, however, may be just aeflectyion of our small 19th century French archive. Hopefully as our site develops we will be able to address this topic more fully. Our preliminary assessment is that kilt suits or kilt suit styles dressed were a fashionable choice with affluent families, both rich families and the meerly well to do.

Terminology

We are not sure just how they were described in France at the time. The French translation for kilt suit is "Costume kilt écossais". We do not know if this precise term was actually used. A French reader suggests a slightky different description, "costume d'inpitation écossaise".

Styling

We note some examples of French boys wearing kilt suits in the photographic record, but we see some different styles. Many seem quite different than the klit suit outfits worn by American boys. We see several examples of long jackets. Our French archieve is not yet large enough to gove any valid inndication of prevlence. We also notice some outfits that have some similarity to kilt suits, but are styled differently those worn in America and England. Some look more like dresses or tunics than the kikt suits worn by American boys. The outfit here is a good example (figure 1). The kilt suit worn by American boys was rather a plain garment. French boys in the late-19th century were often dressed in more elaborate outfits outfits. Note that the kilt suit seen here is fancier than the plainer styles worn by American boys. While the klit suit itself does not appear to have been a major style for boys, we do note that sailor kilts were quite popular for younger boys in France beginning in the 1880s. Sailor outfits in general were popular in France.

Chronolgy

We have only begun to piece togrther a chronology of French kilt suits. We are not yet sure about the 1860s. This seems very similar to chronological trends in America. We do see boys wearing them in the 1870s. The kilt suit here was worn about 1895, although it may be a dress styled like a kilt suit (figure 1). It is very similar to the outfits worn by the Proust brothers in the 1890s. We suspect that they were also worn to at least sonme extent in the 1900s. We do not botice them by the 910s.

Hosiery

We also note that while American boys wore kilt suits with long stockings, French boys were more like to wear three-quarter socks. A good example is a French boy from an aristocratic family.

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Created: August 9, 2003
Last updated: 9:24 PM 7/2/2013