Figure 1.--This younger American teenager wears a rather adult looking three-piece suit with a vest. Notice the watch fob. He looks to be about 14 years old. The portrait is undated, but was probably taken in the 1890s.

Suits were worn with vests through the late 19th century. There were significant changes in the color of the vests worn as the century progressed. Suits in the early 19th century varied widely. There was still no mass production of clothes, leading to greater variety of styles. Suits were worn with and without vests. Vests in both matching and contrasting colors. Especially at the beginning of the century, bright colored suits and vests might still be worn, but not as commonly as in the 18th century. Colors for suits became increasingly muted as the century progressed. By mid century, dark suits were very common. Our information on vests is limited, but we note many vests at mid-century which contrasted with the suit. How common they were and the conventions associated with wearing them we are not sure. We note vests in many colors as well as bright patterns like plaids. A good example is an unidentified American boy in 1847. Another example at about the same times show an unidentified American boy weaering a vest that matches his jacket, but not his trousers. Suits became much more sober in the late-19th century. Usually dark colors were worn. Suits with vests were common, although the vest might be more commonly worn in the winter and summer. Vests in contrasting colors do not appear to be very common. An exception appears to have been tht some British schools allowed the upper classmen to wear brightly colored vests of their own choosing with their usually pain colored school uniforms.

The 1800s

Suits were worn with vests through the late 19th century. There were significant changes in the color of the vests worn as the century progressed. Suits in the early 19th century varied widely. There was still no mass production of clothes, leading to greater variety of styles. Suits were worn with and without vests. Vests in both matching and contrasting colors. Especially at the beginning of the century, bright colored suits and vests might still be worn, but not as commonly as in the 18th century.

The 1840s

Colors for suits became increasingly muted as the century progressed. By mid century, dark suits were very common. The 1840s is the last decade that we still see bright-colored vests. We note vests in many colors as well as bright patterns like plaids. A good example is an unidentified American boy in 1847. Another example at about the same times show an unidentified American boy weaering a vest that matches his jacket, but not his trousers. We notice teenagers wearingvblack vests matching their sober Victorian frock coats. A good example is Clarence E. Summer, we believe in the 1840s.

The 1850s

Our information on vests is limited, but we note many vests at mid-century which contrasted with the suit. How common they were and the conventions associated with wearing them we are not sure. We notice unidentified American boys about 1850 wearing vests with jackets, but not matching trousers. Another example is two London boys in the 1850s. They may be wearing their school uniform.

The 1870s

Suits became much more sober in the late-19th century. Usually dark colors were worn. Suits with vests were common, although the vest might be more commonly worn in the winter and summer. Vests in contrasting color do not appear to be very common. An exception appears to have been tht some British schools allowed the upper classmen to wear brightly colored vests of their own choosing with their usually pain colored school uniforms.