American Little Lord Fauntleroy Jackets: Open Standard Lapel Jackets

Figure 1.--This unidentified American boy looks to be about 10-years old. He wears what looks like a standard, if formal double-breasted lapel sack suit. He is, however, wearing it open to show off his fancy Fauntleroy blouse. Mother could have replaced the blouse with a more mature shirtwaist in a couple years and the boy could have continued wearing the same jacket. The cabinet portrait was taken by Sanders photography of Chicago (519 Blue Island Avenue). It loks to have been taken in the 1890s.

There were other jackets that we see being worn open to show off Fauntleroy blouses. These do not appear, however, to be actual Fauntleroy jackerts or jackets that were made to be worn open. These seem to be standard lapel sack suits. Many seem to be dark formal suits. were jackets that were not done as small jackets in the the cut-away style. These jackets commonly had lapels. As far as we can tell they were the standard lapel jackets worn by boys at the time. We have not seen a great deal written about these jackets. They fell far below the waistline, a little above mid-thigh. This contrasted with the cut-away jackets which were cut at waistline level. They looks to be suits tat could be buttoned, but were worn open to show off the fancy blouses. As the boy grew older, they could be worn buttoned with a less juvenile blouse and collar. We do not often see boys wearing these lapel jackets buttoned when wearing Fautleroy blouses, in large mmeasures because mothers wanted to show off the blouses. We are still assessing the blouses worn withbthese jackets, but this seems to be the general convention. Most look to be double-breasted jackets. Some look like they could be buttoned, but were just work open to show off the fancy Fauntleroy blouse. We are not entirely sure about this. They may have been especially made as Fauntleroy jackets. Often the elaborate blouses cover up most of the jacket so it is not always easy to tell. We hope to acquire more information as HBC expands. Jackets were almost always woire buttoined except as Fauntleroy suit.

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Created: 9:05 AM 8/4/2010
Last updated: 9:05 AM 8/4/2010