Figure 1.--This unidentified Paris boy wears a kilt suit. Notice the long jacket and diagonal buttons. The jacket is a solid color the pleated skirt is plaid, but has no other kilt features. The CDV portait is undated, but the Fauntleroy styling (collar and cuffs) suggest the late-1880s or 90s. The boy wears pantlettes with his kilt suit. The studio address is the Rue Victor-Hugo. We are guessing the street did not get that name until after Hugo died in 1885. The studio was S.d. Berthaud in l'Eure. This is a neighborhood of Paris.

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.

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Created: 8:37 AM 7/8/2017
Last updated: 8:37 AM 7/8/2017