While our children and grandchildren are busy with shopping for back-to-school clothes, I was thinking about fashion and how it has changed for children over the years. I have in my collections several pictures of boys and girls in their period clothing in the 1800s and 1900s.

Up until the 1750s, small children were dressed like adults, but by the 1800s infants, male and female, wore long white dresses until they were old enough to walk. Dresses were then shortened and worn 'till age 3 or 4.

Girls then dressed as women, but boys' attire became very elaborate, picturesque and fanciful. Originally from the 1750s, the cavalier suit was a black velvet suit with elaborate collars and trims and was popular into the 1800s. Similar to this cavalier suit was the knickerbocker suit, c.1865, of black velvet trimmed with fur, cuffs of Irish point lace and fastened at the waist with a belt of leather or sash of silk usually accompanied with a black velvet cap. Many other boys' “dresses” were made of silk or wool in bright colors, usually red, white and black plaid with matching fabric vest. My great-grandfather, William (“Willie” as a boy) Franklin Dates (1865-1949), is pictured in his plaid dress at age 2. Styled after the English royal family, kilts were also widely worn in England and America during this period.

Many people credit Frances Hodgson Burnett with introducing the “Fauntleroy” style suit, however history shows that this suit was popular at least 20 years before “Little Lord Fauntleroy” was published in 1886 as a serial in St. Nicholas, a children's magazine. The book version appeared the same year. Burnett had two sons whom she delighted in dressing in the colorful cavalier style, and their pictures inspired the appearance of Cedric Errol, Little Lord Fauntleroy. He is portrayed as a little boy (girls also played the part) who is courageous, chivalrous and has a strong sense of right and duty. What mother wouldn't love to have a noble, princely boy dressed like that? The Broadway play, which was also written by Burnett, opened in December, 1888.

After the turn of the century, the Fauntleroy look fell out of favor and the sailor suit became popular. This suit was composed of a blouse with box-plaited collar, sailor sleeves and trousers/knickers with or without a fly. My great uncle and William Dates' son Bert Dates (1911-1986) is shown in his “sailor dress” at age 4 1/2 along with William's daughter and Bert's sister, Thelma Dates at age 1 (1915-1917). Thelma died of polio before age 2, suffering from paralysis of one arm and one leg. Her homemade dress and booties were embroidered with lace and ribbons.

There were at least six pattern companies in the 1800s and turn of the century the McCall Pattern Co., the May Manton's Pattern Co., the New Idea Pattern Co., the Butterick Pattern Co., the Standard Pattern Co. and the Ladies Home Journal Pattern Co.

Thanks to Sally Queen & Associates, New York City for fashion information in this column.

Most of you are probably thinking, thank goodness I can go to the mall and not have to worry about making “fanciful” or “picturesque” clothing. Me too! Hope your school shopping is almost finished.

Red Creek Central School welcomes back all children from the Town of Victory and northern Cayuga County on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Have a good year teachers and students.

Beverly Sayles grew up in the town of Victory and writes about its history.