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We notice younger boys from affluent families in many different countries wearing velvet suits. Velvet is a material that can often be identified in photographs, but not always with a total degree of accracy. Velvet was an expensive fabric and even cotton blends were expensive because of the production process. It was a fabric very much in demand because it had a plush feel and look. Affluent families in many different could afford it. We have found many photographic images fom a variety of countries wearing a range of velvet suits. Many images of boys in different countries are archived on HBC. We have not yet linked them here, but plan to do so. We note large numbers of American boys wearing velvet suits. They were especially common during the Faumtleroy era. We see more American boys earing velvet suits than in any other country. Here the Funtleroy Craze was a major factor. Fauntleroy suits were more popular in America than any other country and we note a huge number of boys wearing these suits.And of course many of the Fauntlroy so popular in America during the late 19th century were velvet suits. Many were done in velvet. This reflected the industrial expansion of the United States and the explosion of wealth in the country. This is why Europeans by the millins came to America. A good example is an unidentified Canadian boy, we think in the 1860s. We note an unidentified English boy wearing a velvet suit in the 1870s. Another example is matching velvet suits worn by the Caplain brothers in France during the 1860s. We note two German brothers wearing identical velvet suits in 1864. We also note German brothers in the 1880s.
True velvet is an expensive fabric as it contains at least some silk. We see it being used for dressy children's wear, both girls' dresses and boys' suits. The extrodinary industrial expansion of the United States after the Civil War (1861-65) generated wealth on a epic scale. This created not only the great caoptains of industry, but an enornous middle class and a huge market of well off consunmers. This helped fuel the Fauntleroy Craze. The boys' outfit most associated with velvet is the classic Little Lord Fauntleroy suit. American Fauntleroy suits were commonly done in velvet, especially the classic cut-away jackets and matching knee pants. We also see sailor suits done in velvet. This was not very common, but because so many boys' wore sailor suits, there are quite a few examples in the photographic record. These were garments for mostly younger boys, especially the Fauntleroy suit. But we see also see some the standard suit styles (colarbuttining and lapel jackets) for older boys being done in velvet. Some of the junior Eton suits that became so popular for younger American boys in the 20th century were done in velvet or simulated velvet.
A good example is an unidentified Canadian boy, we think in the 1860s.
We note an unidentified English boy wearing a velvet suit in the 1870s. The boy here probably in the 1890s is anothr good example (figure 1). We do not yet have an Englisg velvet suit page, although we hope to create one shoorttly. We do have an English page on velvet. Theprimary use of velvet for both boys and girlls were exoensive boys' suits and Highland kikt jackets. Vrlkvet was also used for girl' party dresses. There were other used such as trim on suits and coars, but syits and dresses seemn to be the primary usage.
Another example is matching velvet suits worn by the Caplain brothers in France during the 1860s.
We note two German brothers wearing identical velvet suits in 1864. We also note German brothers in the 1880s.
Velvet of course is a material, not a style. But it is a material that was used for a range of juvenile suit styles. Velvet a popular material for youngrr boy's suits. We see mostly youngr boys wearing these velvet suit styles. We note some Fauntleroy suits, done with cut-away jackets in the late -19th century. We also see some 20th century velvet suits, inclusing early-20th century that still had some Fauntleroy touches. These suits included both various jacket styles as well as what look like blouse suits. We only have a few examples at this time.
Fauntleroy Related Pages:
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