mid1800schildren

This little ham is the reason that I started my whole interest in the civil war period. He was the one who really wanted to go to our local reenactment. He wears a outfit of an upper class boy. He wanted a suit "just like the army guys" but most likely a boy of his age would not wear a military outfit. Only boys of high ranking officials would have the luxury of matching their daddy's clothes. If parents had money it would show in the clothes of the children. Many times women would put just as much trim on a boys jacket as their own. The shirt is 100% cotton and the navy suit is 100% wool. Even little boys wore hats in public. Most children wore the same type of outfit until they were breeched (potty trained). The outfit would be a dress made of white cotton, wool or linen. The white was easier to keep clean than if they used colors. The dress part was for ease of diapering and toilet training. Not until this was accomplished did boys get to wear pants. Girls would start to have much more colorful and detailed clothes.

Does this little boy look familiar? It is the above kid just a year older. He grew out of his outfit. This year it is a black linen suit lined in a homespun cotton plaid. He picked out the buttons which look like Indian head nickels. The cotton calico shirt was his idea. His new favorite color. Vintage shell buttons at neck and cuff. Notice the shirt do not button all the way down the front. The pants are once again knickers.

By the way he remembered the exact rock he had posed on last year.