Childrens Clothing Learning Journey

Imagine being wrapped up so that all you can move are your eyes. Imagine boys dressed as girls. Imagine lying face down on the floor with your mother's foot in the middle of your back so that she can lace you tightly into your clothes... Click on steps 1 - 6 to find out more.....

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Childrens clothing learning journey Step 2: Boys dressed as girls Before 1820 little boys wore short sleeved dresses of white cotton muslin which either had a tight bodice and pointed waist, or which were like a larger version of a slip-over gown for babies with a square bodice and loose skirt. The dresses were slit from waist to hem so they could move freely. Boys were breeched at between two and four years old. This meant that they were then dressed in breeches or trousers. Breeches are trousers which reach to just below the knee. Full length trousers came into fashion during the 1800s. Between 1820 and 1890 boys were not breeched until they were five or six years old. Small boys wore rompers and then dresses before they were breeched. Dresses were often white or cream. Boys did not traditionally wear blue until the 1930s. Sailor outfits were in fashion in 1890 and very young boys wore a pleated skirt like a kilt with a sailor's blouse. Towards the end of the century boys wore white socks and black patent shoes fastened with a button. Boys' hair was often curled in ringlets and they looked just like their sisters. Are there any girl's fashions which boys wear today?

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