Figure 1.--This CDV portrait shows an American boy wears a dress and long pantalettes. He is carrying a cap, but it is a little dificult to tell wht kind. The boy is unidentified, but the CDV was found in the Bartley family album from Seneca Falls, New York. He looks about 4 years old. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1860s.

HBC has begun to develop a basic chronology of American pantalettes. Pantalettes seem to have been primarily a 19th century fashion. We have, however, little information on the 18th centuty. Pantalettes were widely worn by American children in the first half of the 19th century. Both girls a boys wore them, at least boys not yet breeched. Gradually boys' pantalettes become plainer, but this convedntionvaried frfom family to family. Pantalettes were very common through the 1850s. Pantalettes during the early 19th century could be quite long, covering the entire leg. We think this was mostly among urban families. We are less sure about rural areas. Pantalettes were still commonly worn after mid-century, especially the 50s. We still see them in the 60s, particularly the early 60s. They begin to decline notably by the end of the decade and the early 70s. We continue to see them in the late-19th, but they became increasingly less common. In the latter part of the Century the boys still wearing pantalettes were boys wearing dresses are the increasingly common kilt suits and other kilted outfits. Pantalettes not only becone less common, but they also become shorter. Pantalettes quickly disappear after the turn-of-the 20th century.

The 18th Century

We have little information on the 18th centuty.

The 19th Century

Pantalettes seem to have been primarily a 19th century fashion. Pantalettes were widely worn by American children in the first half of the 19th century and the gradually to a lesser extent in the later decades.. Both girls and boys wore them, at least boys not yet breeched. In the early 19th century boys when breeched wore long pants. At mid-century we begin the see shorteded length pants, primarily knee pants. And we begin to see some younger boys wearing oantalettes with knee pants. Gradually boys' pantalettes become plainer, but this convention varied from family to family. Pantalettes were very common through the 1850s. Pantalettes during the early 19th century could be quite long, covering the entire leg. We think this was mostly among urban families. We are less sure about rural areas. Pantalettes were still commonly worn after mid-century, especially the 50s. We still see them in the 60s, particularly the early 60s. A good example is Albert DuBois wjo looks to be wearing plain pantalettes during the 1860s. They begin to decline notably by the end of the decade and the early 70s. We continue to see them in the late-19th, but they became increasingly less common. In the latter part of the Century the boys still wearing pantalettes were boys wearing dresses are the increasingly common kilt suits and other kilted outfits. Pantalettes not only become less common, but they also become shorter.

The 20th Century

Er still a few children wearing pantalettes at the turn-of-the 20th century, but not very many. A factor here is that the convention of outfitting youngrr boys in dresses was rapidly hoing out of style. Thus pantalettes quickly disappear suring the 1900s decade.

Created: 4:22 AM 10/24/2009
Last updated: 7:25 PM 5/31/2020