Figure 1.--This CDV portraitb shows an uinidntified English girl with flowers wearing a classic sailor sress, Ghe portrait is undated, but we would guess was taken around 1880. Thev studio was Caleb C Smith in Lincoln and Boston

We know that sailor suits began as a boys' style in Britain (1840s). We have Queen Victoria to thank for this. We first see non-oyal children includiung girls wearing sailor in Britain and it became an established style (1870s). At first it was mostly by well to do fashionsnle families. Gradually it became a popular middle-class style. We see more girls wearing full sailor dresses suits and dresses with sailor elements (1880s). It is later that we see sailor outfits becoming standard garments (1890s). A factor limiting popularity in England was the importance of school uniforms. Sailor styles were not adopted as school unifirms in privatev schools. This is wearunifiormks werev worn At it was thesevschools that adopted school uniforms and set the standards and styles for school uniforms when state schools began to adopt uniforms. Even before this many parents began to choose uniform style garments. And this was before for schoolwear even if the school did not have a uniform. This this mitigated agains sailor dresss and blouses at state schools, but did not precklude them. Of ciourse while private schools set school uniorm style the vast majority of children went to state schools. Nationalism was involved here, even though a single navy, the British Royal Navy, set the standard for the style. The sailor suit was part of an expewssion og patriotic feeling. It is a reason that boys' liked it and the girls were also caught up in this feeling.

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web sailor pages:
[Middy blouse] [Reefer jackets] [Sailor dresses] [Other sailor styles] [Sailor hats]
[Middy suits] [National sailor suits] [The Royals] [Ring bearer/page costumes]

Created: 10:37 AM 8/30/2018
Last updated: 2:06 PM 4/23/2024