Victorian? 20's? 30's?

[amandainvermont]

Victorian? 20\'s? 30\'s?

For a slim little boy --- Also - is it just a "suit" or did it have a special name? Wool,Three pieces. I appreciate the help.

 

[pastperfect2]

Boy's things are hard to pin down. I just took a look through what I have on children's clothing and this does not lok like any of the young boys outfits I found in the 1880s - 1910s. If those are pants rather than knickers, it's an older boy. The vest style is Victorian - early Edwardian when seen in adult clothing. The jacket paired with that vest is curious. Do the fabrics match and does the jacket have tails? or any sign of once having had tails? I ask because the vest is a day style and the jacket is an formal evening style or copied from the evening tail coat.

The more I look at them as individual units, I think 1900 - 1919.

Given that many men were sz 34 - 36 as adults, their teenage clothes must have been very slim indeed!

Hollis

 

[amandainvermont]

Hi Hollis - Thanks for taking the time to look this up for me. The jacket and vest are definitely from the same material and the jacket does not have tails, nor did it ever, as far as I can tell. I was thinking it looked rather formal... almost a mourning outfit? The slacks are pants and this was one tiny young fellow (but oh, how handsome!) The waist is 22 inches and the inseam is 22 inches. Here is the label on the jacket - and buttons on the sleeves - if that helps at all...

 

[avamac]

It almost looks like livery or a uniform....could he have been a child 'in service'?

 

[pastperfect2]

Then my guess is a boy's dress suit ca 1900.

Hollis

 

[crinolinegirl]

It could have been a special occasion outfit for a church, birthday, funeral, wedding, graduation at a private school, etc. The cutaway jacket isn't something a young lad would have worn for everyday wear, it would been too pretentious like wearing a ballgown to a barbeque.
Judging from the measurements you gave me before for Jake, it would fit about a 5-6 year old depending on weight and height (it's just a snug too small for him in the waist and he's 7 next month).
Definitely not a servants outfit due to the poshness of it and by the date this was made, young children would not have been in service.

The label doesn't seem old enough to be 1900 as well it looks more modern Art Deco in styling than antique . I 99.9% sure it's a special occasion outfit from the 1920's- first half of the 30's. Those bakelite buttons on the tops and trousers are typical of what you see on men's things of the era and the waistline of the trousers seems about right for that era too.
The wideness of the lapels is also right for the era too.

It's a nice one as boy's stuff from any era is hard to find and if it had just been a touch bigger then I would have snapped that up for Jakey! :D

Lei

 

[WardrobeMistress]

If this was a UK item I would hazard a guess at it being some type of school uniform....

 

[pastperfect2]

See, when it comes to Victorian/Edwardian children's wear, my real function is to keep the discussion going until Lei can get here. Those years of shopping for Jake have really made her our go to gal!

Hollis

 

[amandainvermont]

Well thank you so much to all of you. When my son was about this size his Uncle (for whom he is named) bought him a gorgeous dark blue blazer from Brooks Bros. and a bow tie. What a handsome young man he was!

 

[crinolinegirl]

Originally posted by pastperfect2
See, when it comes to Victorian/Edwardian children's wear, my real function is to keep the discussion going until Lei can get here. Those years of shopping for Jake have really made her our go to gal!

Hollis

LOL, I'm the only girl in this house so it's been baptism by fire when it comes to men's stuff! I actually find men's stuff interesting, just wish there was more written about it and more available that I could study!