Figure 1.--The English family here was from Eton or Oxford. The photographer was Hills & Saunders from Eton & Oxford. The boys wear matching suits with cut-away jackets, Notice the matching jackets and bloomer knickers. The photograph is undated, but we would guess the 1860s.

We notice several basic styles of suits for boys. There were a variety of juvenile-styled suits made with short cut-away jackets and bloomer knickers. Many of these styles were similar to those worn in the 1850s and could be quite fanciful. Jackets for younger boys often had fancy embroidery, but usually in muted dark colors. These fancy jackets could be in a variety of styes. The most common was a cut-away style which only one closure near the collar. We also note some plainer styles. These collar-buttoning jackers had a military look. The suits more commonly are made of matching material and colors instead of the contrasting convention that was common in the 1840s and 1850s. These jackes were cut shorter than yje jackets commonly wore by men, giving the short jacket a juvenile look. Many of the jackets, especially the plainer ones, have a distinctly modern look. This is a major departure from the styles prevalent in the first half of the century. We notice suits with the traditional "V" front and lapels. The suit the American boy seen here is wearing is a good example (figure 1). They were cut somewhat longer than the collar-buttoning jackets. These were suits with more mature stylying, largely with jacket and pants in the same style and color. Jackets were single breasted. These jackets looked more like adult jackets and did not hjave the fancy embroidery often found on the fancy juveile styles. Suits were now made for boys in muted fabrics and colors like their fathers. American styles for these suits tended to follow fashion set in England.

Juvenile Suits

There were a variety of juvenile-styled suits made with short cut-away jackets and bloomer knickers. Many of these styles were similar to those worn in the 1850s and could be quite fanciful. Jackets for younger boys often had fancy embroidery, but usually in muted dark colors. These fancy jackets could be in a variety of styes. The most common was a cut-away style which only one closure near the collar. We also note some plainer styles. Here we see n English family with the brothers wearing the juvenile cut-sawy jacket suits (figure 1). Note that the boys' suits have matching vests ( waistcoats ). These suits were often worn with small white collars. Modest neckwear was optional.

Collar-buttoning Suits

These collar-buttoning jackers had a military look. The suits more commonly are made of matching material and colors instead of the contrasting convention that was common in the 1840s and 1850s. These jackes were cut shorter than yje jackets commonly wore by men, giving the short jacket a juvenile look.

Lapel Suits

Many of the jackets, especially the plainer ones, have a distinctly modern look. This is a major departure from the styles prevalent in the first half of the century. We notice suits with the traditional "V" front and lapels. The suit the American boy seen here is wearing is a good example (figure 1). They were cut somewhat longer than the collar-buttoning jackets. These were suits with more mature stylying, largely with jacket and pants in the same style and color. Jackets were single breasted. These jackets looked more like adult jackets and did not hjave the fancy embroidery often found on the fancy juveile styles. Suits were now made for boys in muted fabrics and colors like their fathers. American styles for these suits tended to follow fashion set in England.

Long Jackets

We note older boys wearing suits with long jackets. We are not sure about the correct terminology for these jackets. These would be styles for oldervboys and adults. A good example is an English boy, Edward Larrer in 1861.