Developing Your First Person Impression

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AUTHENTICITY GUIDELINES

Advanced Boys

Boys had a defined "look" during the l860's era and by paying a little attention to detail we can define and recreate it.  For younger boys shirts and pants often buttoned together, but this practice was dispensed with as the boy grew.  Hair was neatly parted on the side - a practice that would not change as he aged.  Shoes were square toed boots with flat heel, and usually laced.  White shirts were considered an undergarment, therefore no well brought up young man appeared in public without a vest or coat.  

 

 

Our first young lad wears shirt and pants of matching fabric which are buttoned together at the waist.  It is difficult to tell whether this is cotton or wool fabric, but it has a pattern - a small check.  Trim has been applied down the legs of the pants, around the cuff of the pants, on the shoulders, down the center front, and on the cuffs.  He has a white collar, and square toed boots.  He appears to be holding a hat on his knee.  Hair is neatly parted on the side.

 

 

 

Our second young fellow is a couple of years older, but we can see a button showing where his pants and shirt are still buttoned together.  He wears pants and jacket of matching fabric with a decorative button closure, and white shirt.  His jacket has set-in pockets much as Father's might.  Hair is again neatly parted on the side, and the "look" is completed with square-toed boots.  He holds his hat in his hand for the photographer.

 

 

 

 

This young man has outgrown the practice of buttoning pants and shirt together.  He wears striped pants, white shirt, and dark jacket.  Hair is parted on the side.  Shoes are square-toed.  His suit is accessorized by a bow tie at the neck.

 

This young man is dressed very much as his father or older brother would have.  He has pants and frock coat which either match or are close in color and texture.  His vest or waistcoat is of different but harmonizing fabric, and the pattern is a small check, as opposed to the pants and coat which appear to be solid.  He has a white shirt accessorized by a bow tie.  This frock coat does not have a velvet collar as some do.  Hair is parted on the side and while we cannot see his feet his boots or shoes would be the same style as his father would have worn.  The fabrics used here might have been wool, linen, or cotton, perhaps silk for the waistcoat.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master Matthew Rumble shows that the "look" for young man is easily obtained through a correct combination of fabric and cut.  Image by Tim Parson, Carnton Plantation June 2000.

While the images do not show enough detail to notice it buttonholes on all boys' (and girls') garments would have been hand-stitched.  The technology for machine stitched buttonholes had not been invented yet.  This is an area where compromise can make or break your best efforts to duplicate these clothes.  Hand-stitched buttonholes are simple and your Mentor will be happy to assist you.  

We can see the stages of clothing for these young men evolve through this series of images.  A frock coat or sack coat would be appropriate for boys to young men as well as adults, although the frock coat would have been worn for more formal or dressy occasions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Authenticity Guidelines