Kilt Suits: Collars


Figure 1.--This unidentified American boy was photographed in Brockton which I believe is in Massachusetts. It is undated, but the Eton collar suggests the 1890s. Note the flat pannel kilted styling on his kilt suit. The boy looks to be 4-5 years old.

Boys wore a variety of collars with kilt suits, This varied over time and from country to country. There may have been other factors such as social class. When kilt suits first appeard boys did not commonly wear large collars. Collars in the 1860s tended be very small, but kilt suits were only beginning to appear in the 60s. Collars were only slightly larger in the 1870s when kilt suits became a major style. It is only with the 1880s and Mrs. Burnette's book that we begin to see really large collars whem Mrs. Burnett wrote her book and the Fauntleroy Craze began, This was especially the case in the United States where the Fauntleroy styles were especially popular. Many boys had fancy collars for their kilt suits. The most common collars were lace or ruffled collars of widely varying sizes and shapes. Some were huge affairs, almost enveloping the boy while others were modest in size. Interestingly the younger boys tended to have the largest collars. Many mothers liked the style, and younger boys were more compliant than older boys over such matters. The lace collar was common, but ruffled collars seem less common than with Fauntleroy suits. The boys wearing Fauntleroy kilt suits of course tended to have the fanciest collars. A few boys had Peter Pan and Eton collars. It is often difficult to tell the type of collar, in part because they were often covered up with floppy bows, especially the tips of the collar as is the case with the boy here (figure 1). Boys wore these collars were worn both with and without bows.

Collar Types

Boys wore a variety of collars with kilt suits. Many boys had fancy collars for their kilt suits. The most common collars were lace or ruffled collars of widely varying sizes and shapes. The lace collar was common, but ruffled collars seem less common than with Fauntleroy suits. Tghis was probably botha matter of cost and that ruffeled collars could thus be made in much larger sizes than lace collars. The boys wearing Fauntleroy kilt suits of course tended to have the fanciest collars. A few boys had Peter Pan and Eton collars. It is often difficult to tell the type of collar, in part because they were often covered up with floppy bows, especially the tips of the collar as is the case with the boy here (figure 1). Boys wore these collars were worn both with and without bows. We think the Eton collar was mjore common gthan the Peter Pan collar, but as the tips were commonly covered this is a little difficult to asses. And there were also large white collars that do not fit easily into either the Eton or Peter Pan collar. We arevnjotvsure if there were even names for sor if these ccollaes.

Chronology

This varied over time. When kilt suits first appeared boys did not commonly wear large collars. Collars in the 1860s tended be very small, but kilt suits were only beginning to appear in the 60s. Collars were only slightly larger in the 1870s when kilt suits became a major style. It is only with the 1880s and Mrs. Burnette's book that we begin to see really large collars whem Mrs. Burnett wrote her book and the Fauntleroy Craze began,

Countries

The collars also varied from country to country. The United States was especially notable for the popularity of the Fauntleroy style. The Fauntleroy suit in the Unites States was primarily a knee oants suit. We see, however, kilt suits done with Fauntleroy styling, which included both lace and ruffled collars.

Other Factors

There may have been other factors such as social class.

Sizes

Some were huge affairs, almost enveloping the boy while others were modest in size.

Age

Interestingly the younger boys tended to have the largest collars. Many portraits show boys that semed almost enguklfed by theue collars and floppy bows. Many mothers liked the style, and younger boys were more compliant than older boys over such matters.






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Created: December 20, 2001
Last updated: 7:33 PM 6/22/2013