Facts for Children's Fashions in the 1920s

Small children in the '20s played in rompers in the warm weather.

In the 1920s children dressed like little ladies and gentlemen. Most kids had play clothes, but even those were often dresses for girls and old dress clothes for boys. The '20s were a time of drastic fashion independence, for women in particular, who bobbed their hair short and wore more casual dresses. These relaxed fashion trends extended to children's styles as well, although kids still dressed up whenever they went out.

Rompers and Bloomers

Toddlers and young children, below the age of five or so, often wore rompers for at-home, daily wear. These one-piece outfits were designed similarly to modern day summertime onesies. They were often made of cotton or muslin and closed in the back and along the bottom seam, which gathered between the child's legs and around the tops of his thighs. Toddler boys wore rompers often, girls wore them as well but also wore short dresses with little knee-length bloomers underneath. Bloomers were baggy, child-size versions of underwear that women wore beneath dresses.

Sailor Suits and Dresses

The sailor fashion trend had come into vogue in the 1910's and even women wore sailor dresses. The style died out for women as flapper dresses came into fashion in the '20s but sailor outfits were still trendy for children. Boys wore sailor suits consisting of shorts just above the knee, and a white shirt with a bib-like sailor collar and scarf-like tie below the bib. Girls wore dresses styled the same way that came to the knee. Sailor outfits were often red, white and blue and embellished with anchor or star designs.

Boys Bolero Suits

Until boys were teenagers they almost always wore short pants that stopped above the knee with knee-high stockings. For school or social events boys wore jackets and ties. One popular suit of the day was the bolero suit. This suit paired a short, bolero length jacket with the boy's shorts and a white dress shirt. Younger boys wore X-shaped ties with their suits, older boys wore longer ties. Most boys wore hats and newsboy caps were the most popular of the day.

Girls Dresses

Younger girls wore slip-on dresses that had rounded collars and came down to around mid-thigh. They often wore these dresses with short bloomers that could not be seen below the hem of the dress, but that protected modesty. This style of dress ranged from simple, everyday looks to fancy party dresses with fuller skirts. Soon, girls began to copy their mothers and wear long-waisted dresses similar to flapper styles. The drop waists often had a ribbon and bow to offset it. Many girls had short bobbed hair like their mothers and they wore ribbons in it to hold it back.

References

• Histclo: Boys' Clothes in the 1920s
• Worn Through: Celebrity, Children & Fashion, 1920s-1930s
• Past Patterns: 1900-1920's Children's Patterns