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In the earlier part of the nineteenth century, the Empire Period (1800-1820), young girls dressed similar to adult women, with the exception of a shorter length and minor style variations. Shawls and pelisses (full-length coats featuring the fashionable high waistline) were worn outdoors. Bonnets were the most widely worn hat style and slippers and ankle boots were commonly worn. Young boys wore dresses until they reached the ages of four or five years at which point trousers were added under the skirts. Skeleton suits, consisting of ankle-length high-waist trousers connected to a loose shirt with a wide, frilled collar, were worn from age six or seven. Boys began adopting the dress of adult men after age eleven or twelve.
During the Romantic period (1820-1850) young girls continued wearing shorter versions of adult dresses, with the exception of lower necklines and shorter sleeves. The transition of young boys from dresses to trousers continued. For young boys, the Eton suit, which consisted of a short jacket and turned down collar worn with a necktie, vest, and trousers, appeared and was worn for the rest of the century. In the Crinoline Period (1850-1870) skirts lengthened as girls got older and new styles introduced for young boys included knickerbockers suits (full knee breeches with a short collarless jacket) and sailor suits.
During the last part of the nineteenth century styles for young girls continued to follow the dictates of adult women’s dresses; including more extreme fashions such as the bustle and full leg-of-mutton sleeves. Styles influenced by the Aesthetic Movement were also seen, specifically with empire revival dresses based on illustrations by Kate Greenway and Little Lord Fauntleroy suits for boys, which consisted of a long velvet tunic worn with tight knickerbockers and a wide white lace collar and cuffs.
The trend of dressing young children in very similar fashion to adults continued into the turn of the century, however the first decade of the twentieth century saw increasing awareness of a need for more practical styles for children. Young girls wore lingerie dresses similar to adult women as well as sailor dresses and pinafores over dresses to protect them from getting dirty. Starting in the 1910s, young boys began to be dressed in rompers rather than dresses.
Between the 1920s and the 1950s toddlers of both sexes wore smock style dresses, often with visible, matching bloomers. The tradition of dressing boys in blue and girls in pink may have been introduced around this time. Jeans began to be worn for play-clothes starting in the 1930s. Young girls continued to wear variations of adult styles that included the fashionable silhouettes of the twenties and thirties. Skirts and blouses were worn beginning in the 1930s, and pants appeared in the 1940s, along with cardigan sweaters. Young boys continued to be dressed in rompers or short pants rather than skirts and polo shirts. Pullover sweatshirts were introduced at this time.
In the 1950s the development of wash-and-wear fabrics, synthetic fibers, and permanent press features made children’s clothing more practical. During the later part of the period, long pants with gripper-snap fasteners were made to make diaper changing easier. Styles that mimicked those of adults were used such as plaid vests and gray flannel suits for boys and mother-daughter “look-alike” dresses, skirts, and jumpers for girls. Knit tops and peter pan collars were commonly worn and Bermuda shorts and pedal pushers were adopted by young girls for play. For boys, long pants replaced knickers and were often worn with blazers or Eton jackets. A number of fads came into popularity in the fifties, including poodle skirts worn with ankle socks, saddle shoes, and a scarf around the neck.
In the period ranging from the 1960s to the 1980s children’s clothing continued to echo popular aesthetics of adult styles, such as military, mod and hippie-influenced styles. Young girls in the 1960s often wore short A-line dresses and jumpers paired with colored and textured tights. In the 1970s, a variety of pant styles and longer maxi skirts began to be worn. Knitted T-shirts and polo shirts were worn for play and logo T-shirts were popular from the 1970s onward. Young boys could also be seen wearing polyester suits modeled after those fashionable for men. Blue jeans and pants were the most commonly worn items for both sexes of the period.
In the last twenty years of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first century the trend for adult-influenced styles continued and retro fashions like those of adults were commonly seen. Licensing of cartoon, film, sports, and entertainment images became a popular practice. Message T-shirts reflecting societal issues, such as that of the environment were worn. Active stretch sports clothing entered the children’s market at this time.
Layered looks became a popular style for young girls in the 1990s. Notable styles included jumpers, dropped-waist, and printed dresses, and a variety of shorts. The nineties trend towards a more relaxed and casual look was also reflected in young boys clothing. Sports-influenced clothing such as baseball jackets and rugby shirts became popular. Safari and western styles were seen and blazers were often paired with jeans or chinos for dress-up.
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