American Little Lord Fauntleroy Suits: Chronology--The 1880s

Figure 1.--This unidentified boy was from Weymouth, Massachusetts. He has long, but uncurled hair. This a not very common. More common as ringlets. He wears a collar buttoning velvet suit with a pin-on lace collar. Notice the buttons, that was a style that was not very common in the 1880s. An internet poster dates the image to 1880. We are not sure if that is a definitive date written on the back of the card or as estimate. The studio setting and jacket style seem more consistent with the 1870s than 80s, so 1880 is a possibility. The boy looks to be about 9 years old. That was on the upper limit of the age of boys wearing knee pants in the 1880s, especially the early 80s.

We note boys wearing fancier outfits in the early 1880s. Larger collars and floppy bows were becomming more popular. The actual Fauntleroy craze began, however, when Mrs. Burnett published Little Lord Fauntleroy (1885). This inspired the Fauntelroy craze of the 1880s and 90s which became a very much American phenomenon. American at the time was rapidly industrializing. Great fortunes were being made. Families from modest origins were obtaining great affluence. Many were anxious to shoff off this affluence. This kind of sartorial overkill was designed to do just this. In addition, most affluent molthers at the time did not work and had help to take care of the house and children. This meant they had the time and energy to devote to such fashions. And they were fascinated by Mrs. Burnett's book and the fashions involved. The book was widely published and there were many theatrical productions. Many boys as a result were dressed in the fancy velvet suits. The classic American suit was a two-piece velvet cut-away jacket and knee pants. Many European boys wore bloomer knickers, but American Fauntleroy suits were mostly knee pants suits worn with dark long stockings. And much larger numbers in less expensive imitations or suits with some Fauntleroy styling. We see quite a range of styles during this period. Boys not only wore velvet suits, but destinctive Fauntleroy blouses with large lace and ruffled collars. Lace collars were especially common in the 1880s. Some mothers added ringlet curls. This was especially the case in America. Ringlets were much less common in Europe. A minority of the boys wearing Fauntleroy suits wore ringlets, but the two styles became fused in the popular mind.

Early-1880s

We note boys wearing fancier outfits in the early 1880s. Larger collars and floppy bows were becomming more popular. We think a good example is the boy here, wearing a velvet suit, probably about 1880. After Mrs. Burnett published her book, cut-away jackets became more common.

Fauntleroy Craze

The actual Fauntleroy craze began when Mrs. Burnett published Little Lord Fauntleroy (1885). This inspired the Fauntelroy craze of the 1880s and 90s which became a very much American phenomenon. American at the time was rapidly industrializing. Great fortunes were being made. Families from modest origins were obtaining great affluence. Many were anxious to show off this newly-acquired affluence. This kind of sartorial overkill was designed to do just this. In addition, most affluent molthers at the time did not work and had help to take care of the house and children. This meant they had the time and energy to devote to such fashions. And they were fascinated by Mrs. Burnett's book and the fashions involved. The book was widely published and there were many theatrical productions.

Fauntleroy Outfits

Many boys as part of the Fauntleroy Craze were dressed in the fancy suits, often velvet, with elborate trim. At first there was considrablke variation in Fauntleroy suit styling. Mothers had no template to work with or were ready made suits readily vailable in the stores. This soon changed, but early styles could be quite variesd The classic American suit became a two-piece outfit--velvet cut-away jacket and knee pants. Many European boys wore bloomer knickers, but American Fauntleroy suits were mostly knee pants suits worn with dark long stockings. And much larger numbers in less expensive imitations or suits with some Fauntleroy styling. We see quite a range of styles during this period. Boys not only wore velvet suits, but destinctive Fauntleroy blouses with large lace and ruffled collars. Lace collars were iorn, like boy's suit here (figure 1). More common were alrge ruffled collars. These became increasingly common in the second half of the decade and on intoi thge 1890s. Some mothers added ringlet curls. This was especially the case in America. Ringlets were much less common in Europe. A minority of the boys wearing Fauntleroy suits wore ringlets, but the two styles became fused in the popular mind.

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Created: 5:26 PM 4/20/2010
Last updated: 12:03 AM 12/7/2021