|
We see American boys wearing a wide range of dressy tunics done in the photographic record a variety of styles. The basic cut of the tunic was the same for both play and dressy tunics. The differenced was often the styling, fabric used, and the detailing and trim. Of course some boys wore older tunic for play. We see fancy, dress tunics that were clearly made for formal occassion. Most of the dressy tunics we have found are done in sailor styled tunics. Often the basic garment was the same or similat to play tunics, only with fancy trim added to create a dressy look. Scalloped edging was also popular. Some tunics had copius ruffeled and lace trimed decorative elements. Many of the dressy tunics were sailor tunics, although this may not initially be apparent because of all the fancy trim. These were often white sailor tunics, but withour the standard stripe detailing. The tunic here is a good example (figure 1). The V-front has been modified to look more like lapels, but notice that there was still a back flap. We also see very plain, but elegant looking tunics. Here the fabric used could also be different. These may have been the boy's party outfit or dressiest garment for special occassions. We see basic tunic suits trimmed with copious amounts of lace. This seems rather popular for white tunic suits made in light-weight fabrics for summer wear. We also see tunics done in heavier, dark materials, but they do not seem as common for dress wear as the white ones. There could be seasonal factors at play here. The fancy whire tunivs could be a spring-summer style while the plainer tunics with heavier material worn more during fall and winter. This is difficult to tell in undated studio portrits.
We see American boys wearing a wide range of dressy tunics done in the photographic record a variety of styles. All of the images we have found are formal studio portraits. We notice tuic suits being worn in snap shots, but most of the reakky dressy tunic suits we have found are studio portraits.
The basic cut of the tunic was the same for both play and dressy tunics. Of course some boys wore older tunic for play, but this was probblyless true for dressy wjite tunics. . We see fancy, dress tunics that were clearly made for formal occassion. Most of the dressy tunics we have found are done in sailor styled tunics. Many of the dressy tunics were sailor tunics, although this may not initially be apparent because of all the fancy trim. These were often white sailor tunics, but withour the standard stripe detailing. The tunic here is a good example (figure 1). The V-front has been modified to look more like lapels. This was not done for play yinics. We only see this with the dressy tunics. Even with the lapels, notice that there was still a back flap fojnd on sailor outfits. We see quite a number of portraits like this in the photographic record, it seemed to be a very popular style for dresing up yonger boys.
Often the basic garment was the same or similar to play tunics, only with fancy trim added to create a dressy look. Scalloped edging was also popular. Some tunics had copius ruffeled and lace trimed decorative elements. This was even true with sailor tunics, a style not usually done with ruffels and lace. Onw od the characteristics of the sailor suit was that is wasnot a fancy stle, but basically paon and comfortable to wear. And this was true even during the Fauntkeroy era when we see over-the-top fancm y dressy outfits. Saikir sttled tunics were a popular style And many were play outfits. But we see quite a few done a dressy outfits with ruffles and lace, often all white outfits like the boys here are wearing here (figure 1). Thus is a stylew e see quite a vit in the 1900s and 1910s. The ruffles and kace are mostly done around the V-collar and back flap. Itdies how up in portraits taken from the front, butbthe sailor tunics like sailor suits had back flaps. The V-collar on these dresst silior suits is usually elongated compared to a standard sailor suit. Sailor tunics were not the only dressy tunis, but they may have been the most common. We see a few with huge lace collars that virtually covered the entire top of the tunic.
We also see very plain, but elegant looking tunics. Here the fabric used could also be different. Play tunicswere done in easilyb lyndered cotton fabrics. We believe that many of the dressy tunics were done in linnen.
These dressy tunics may have been the boy's party outfit or dressiest garment for special occassions. They could be worn to Church or to a variety of speciall occasions such as parties or various family gatherings. Parties in the early-20th century when these garments were popular, basically theEdwardian era, tended to be formal occassions. They were also popular for photographic portaits for which mothers wanted the children dressed up. The tunic was a practical garment because of its simplicity. It could serve nicely as a play garment. But done in in better fabrics and with a little lacy detailing it could be transformned in a dressy outfit. The matching tunic suits the boys here wear are a good example (figure 1). This often meant white tunics.
We see rather basic tunic suits trimmed with copious amounts of lace, turning them into a dressy garment for special occassions. And many of those fancy outfits were white tunics with fancy white lace detailing. The tunic itself is a very basic garment. But with the lacy detailing they became fancy, dressy outfits. White only added to this look. White is just not a practical color for boys. Perhaps for girls, but not for boys who tend to be very messy if not closely supervised. And most of the dressy tunic we see are white. Especially popular were white tunics done in light-weight fabric for summerear. We also see tunics done in heavier, dark materials, but they do not seem nearly as common for dress wear as the lighter-wight white tunics. There could be seasonal factors at play here. The fancy white tunics could be a spring-summer style while the plainer tunics with heavier material worn more during fall and winter. And of course Easter comes in the sring and is a time in addition to the religious aspect, the time to buy new spring outfits. This is difficult to tell as most of our images are undated studio portraits. As they were tken indoors we do not have any hints as to the season. We only have the suggestion it is a sring/summer outfit because they are done in light-weight fabrics. Light colors especially white are also associated with spring and summer.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing hair style pages:
[Return to the Main long hair page]
[Return to the Main curl hair page]
[Bangs]
[Ringlet curls]
[Hair bows]
[Caps]
[Collar bows]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main American dressy tunic page]
[Return to the Main American tunic utility page]
[Return to the Main American tunic page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
