Figure 1.--This American boy in the early 1920s wears a button-on sailor suit. Note the trim at the wrist cuff. I'm not sure about the color of the suit. It could have been light blue. |
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Most middy blouses had long sleeves. All 19th century and early 20th century middy blouses had long skleeves. Short sleeves in general were mot commonly wirn in the 19th century. We see short sleeves by the 1920s. We even notice some skleeveless middy blouses, but this was not very common. The great majority of middy blouses were long sleeves. There were often detailing at the wrist cuff. This varied from blouse to blouse. Some had wrist cuff detailing, others did not. Of course the plain collared blouses also had plain wrist cuffs. It was the blouses that had collar stailing that varied. Some repeated the collar detailing or even color on the wrist cuffs. Some times the detailing was not at the wrist cuff, bur at other places such as the forehand. The most common position for the sleeve trim, however, was at the wrist slleve hem. Short-sleve blouses also might have trom at the hem of the short sleeves. Many sleeves also had rank badges. These were often American naval rank badges, but a varierty of other designs were also used. Some mothers might add Fauntleroy trim to middy blouses which atvimes mean lace and ruffles at the wrist cuff.
Most middy blouses had long sleeves. All 19th century and early 20th century middy blouses had long sleeves. This included the white summer suits made for warm weather. Short sleeves in general were not commonly wirn in the 19th century. We see short sleeves by the 1920s. We even notice some skleeveless middy blouses, but this was not very common. The great majority of middy blouses were long sleeves. Interestingly, girls for some time had dresses withshort or ballon sleeves, but the idea of men an boys wearing short sleeves were a 20th century phenomenon. It was considered inappropriate for men to wear short sleeves and boys fashions seem to have followed this basic trend. Boys were the first to wear short sleeves. Middy blouses were just one of the boys' garments that begun to be made in short sleeves. As part as this new freedom in dress for children, we even see sleeveless middy blouses. These new styles, sleeveless and short sleeved middy blouses were done for younger boys. These shortened versions seem a largely American style.
Some of the detailing of a middy blouse were done on the sleeves. There were often detailing at the wrist cuff. This varied from blouse to blouse. Some middy blouses had wrist cuff detailing, others did not. Of course the plain collared blouses also had plain wrist cuffs. It was the blouses that had collar stailing that varied. Some repeated the collar detailing or even color on the wrist cuffs. Some times the detailing was not at the wrist cuff, bur at other places such as the forehand. The most common position for the sleeve trim, however, was at the wrist slleve hem. Short-sleve blouses also might have trom at the hem of the short sleeves. Many sleeves also had rank badges. These were often American naval rank badges, but a varierty of other designs were also used.
Some mothers might add Fauntleroy trim to middy blouses which atvimes mean lace and ruffles at the wrist cuff.
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