Figure 1.--We note some American boys wearing tunic suits in the early-19th century. We do not see many American boys wearing them at mid-century, at least in the photographic record. We do see many boys wore what look like sirts or blouses that look rather like tunics. We do begin to seen tunics again in the 1860s. This undated CDV portrait looks to be taken in the 1860s. The unidentified Maine wears a tunic suit. Notice that the long pants match the tunic. Notice the peaked cap. This is the earlist America example we have found in the photogrpohic record. It does not become a popular style, however, until the tutn-of-the 20th century. The studio was S.W. Sawyer in Bangor, Maine.

We see boys wearing tunic suits in two of the major North American countries (America and Canada). We do not see them being commonly worn in Mexico, but our Mexican archive is very limited. Although Mexico is in Noryth america, we cover the country in our Latin American section because of the cultural similarities. Tunics suits seem to have been particularly popular in America. Much of the information in the tunic section is about tunics in America. I am not sure how common they were in the early-20th century, but they are much more common at the mid-19th centuty, and even more sp at the turn-of-the20th century. They were very widely worn in America at this time. Three styles were generally worn, but there were other styles as well. The sailor style was the most popular, but the Russian blouse and Buster Brown styles were also popular. These tunic were mostly worn with above-the-knee knickers and short pants. A related style, the Russian blouse suit was occasionally worn with long pants--mostly in the long pants variant. Some information is available on individual boys. Note an Ohio boy during the 1900s. We also note a New York boy in 1904. We note Canadian boys wearing tunic suits in the early 20th century. They seem rather similar to the suits worn in America, commonly with belts. The tunic seemed less popular in Britain at the time. We notice Canadian boys wearing tunic suits done inthe sailor style. One example is a sailor tunic done with polka dot material. But this was unusual. Most were done with more of a nautical look. One image shows Canadian children dressed up, but playing in a park in 1912. The boy wears a white tunic suit. Another unidentified Canadian boy wears a white tunic at about the same time. It is done in the sailor style, but with lace rather than stripped detailing.

America

Tunics suits seem to have been particularly popular in America. Much of the information in the tunic section is about tunics in America. I am not sure how common they were in the early 20th century, but they are much more common at the mid-19th centuty, and even more sp at the turn-of-the20th century. They were very widely worn in America at this time. Three styles were generally worn, but there were other styles as well. The sailor style was the most popular, but the Russian blouse and Buster Brown styles were also popular. These tunic were mostly worn with above-the-knee knickers and short pants. A related style, the Russian blouse suit was occasionally worn with long pants--mostly in the long pants variant. Some information is available on individual boys. Note an Ohio boy during the 1900s. We also note a New York boy in 1904.

Canada

We note Canadian boys wearing tunic suits in the 19th and early-20th century. Our knowledge of Canadian tunics are limited because our Canadian archive is relatively small. We know nothing about the early-19th century, but suspect Canadian boys dressed similarly to British boys. The tunic was a popular style not only in Britain, but other European countries as well. As in Britain we have few Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes (1840-50s), presumably Britishblaw was in effect. We do have a 1860 Dag showing John Coll wearing a white, belted tunic. Like many tunic at the time, it buttoned up the front. Only with he CDV do we begin to see large numbers of images (1860s). Canada had a rather small population, thus the photographic record is limited. Thus we have little information evn about the mid- and later-19th century. Only at the turn-of-the 20th century do we find more images of Canadian tunics. What we have been able to find suggests styles that seem rather similar to the suits worn in America, commonly with belts. The tunic seemed less popular in Britain at the time. We notice Canadian boys wearing tunic suits done in the sailor style. One example is a sailor tunic done with polka dot material. But this was unusual. Most were done with more of a nautical look. One image shows Canadian children dressed up, but playing in a park in 1912. The boy wears a white tunic suit. Another unidentified Canadian boy wears a white tunic at about the same time. It is done in the sailor style, but with lace rather than stripped detailing.

Created: January 30, 1999
Last updated: 9:38 PM 11/6/2014