Figure 1.--We see many stlistic versions of sailor suits in 19th century Germany. This portrait of a boy wearing a non-traditional sailor suit was undated, but I would estimate that it was taken in the 1880s. We do know that the portrait was taken in Breslau. The back of this CDV is quite interesting. Image courtesy of the MD collection. Click on the image for discussion of the portrait.

We have little information about the early development of the sailor suit for boys in Germany. It does appear, however, that German boys in the 1870s and early 80s were not yet being worn by German boys. Marine blue sailor suits became very popular among young boys of all ages after 1889, when Kaiser Wilhelm II started to stir up the enthusiasm for the German navy with his new naval policy. Sailor suits were practical, durable, and could be worn for all occasions. Even girls began wearing them. The pattern for the German sailor suits and the material of the suit have their origin in the uniforms of the British naval forces. The characteristical three white stripes on cuff and collar recall the three famous sea battles of Nelson. At the end of the 19th century, textile factories for sailors' clothes were established in the naval port of Kiel, from where Germany pursued its colonial and imperialistic policies. The real "Kieler," also among the favorite clothes of the emperor's children, became an expression of national pride for the bourgeoisie. by the 1890s German boys were also commonly wearing sailor suits. Germany became a united country in the 1870s and the use of the sailor suit in the Holenzorian ruling family by the 1890s, influenced by Queen Victoria, was a major factor. Political developments, however, made it even more popular. Prussia and the other German states had no navies of any significance. The German decission to begin building a major navy was a matter of imense national pride and must have been another factor in popularizing the sailor suit for boys. I have little information on styles. They seenmed to have been worn primarily with knee pants.

Decades

We have limited information on German sailor suits during the late 19th century. I have little information about the early development of the sailor suit for boys in Germany. It does appear, however, that German boys in the 1870s and early 80s were not yet being worn by German boys. Marine blue sailor suits became very popular among young boys of all ages after 1889, when Kaiser Wilhelm II started to stir up the enthusiasm for the German navy with his new naval policy. Sailor suits were practical, durable, and could be worn for all occasions. Even girls began wearing them. The pattern for the German sailor suits and the material of the suit have their origin in the uniforms of the British naval forces. There were, however, a great variety of styles--especially in the 1870s and 80s. By the 1890s the more traditional styles following the actual uniforms of sailors became increasingly accepted.

Variety of Styles

The limited information that we have shows a wide variety of styles. Many were not traditional styles. Traditional here means styles similar to the uniform actually worn by sailors, especiall "V"-neck middy blouse with 3-stripe detailing and a back flap. Sailor suit styles varied significantly by decade, although we do not yet have enough 19th century images to fully assess the many varied styles. We do note one style that seems to have been popular in the 1880s or even early 1890s. The style incorporated a more standrd collar with a sailor suit. We have not noted American boys wearing this style, but we are unsure to what extent this was a destinctive German fashion. More traditional styles began to become more standard in the 1890s. The characteristical three white stripes on cuff and collar recall the three famous sea battles of Nelson. At the end of the 19th century, textile factories for sailors' clothes were established in the naval port of Kiel, from where Germany pursued its colonial and imperialistic policies. The real "Kieler," also among the favorite clothes of the emperor's children, became an expression of national pride for the bourgeoisie. by the 1890s German boys were also commonly wearing sailor suits. Germany became a united country in the 1870s and the use of the sailor suit in the Holenzorian ruling family by the 1890s, influenced by Queen Victoria, was a major factor. The German decission to begin building a major navy was a matter of imense national pride and must have been another factor in popularizing the sailor suit for boys. I have little information on styles. They seenmed to have been worn primarily with knee pants.

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Created: April 29, 2003
Last updated: January 23, 2004