Children’s clothing has evolved, with various changes in trends and styles. One significant factor that has remained constant in children’s clothing is the use of colors to differentiate between boys and girls. In the past, when it was difficult to determine the gender of a child by their appearance, color played a significant role in making that distinction. Little boys were dressed in blue, while little girls wore pink. This trend is still present today and has been carried on in the past.
In the past, it was also conventional for little girls to wear dresses and have long hair, while little boys wore pants and had short hair. However, with time, these conventions have evolved. Girls of today wear pants as comfortably as they wear dresses, but boys have not yet adopted dresses as their clothing of choice.
In the 19th century, boys and girls dressed similarly. Girls were not allowed to wear pants, but aside from that, there were few differences between the clothes they wore. Girls wore dresses, bloomers, rompers, smocks, pinafores, and pantalets. Dresses were the most common clothing item for girls, with bloomers serving as an alternative to restrictive clothing. Amelia Bloomer, an American reformer, championed this cause, but Elizabeth Smith Miller is credited as the creator of the bloomers.
Rompers were clothing items that were used primarily for playtime and were worn by both boys and girls. By the end of World War II, rompers had become a basic staple in little girls’ wardrobes and were often used as costumes or uniforms for gym classes.
Smocks were generic clothing items of years gone by. They came in different styles, colors, and buttoning styles, with buttons located at the back, in the front, or on the side. Smocks also had other collars, trims, ties, pockets, and belts. In the 1950s, mothers would often buy identical smocks for their children.
Pinafores were a vital part of a little girl’s wardrobe in Europe and America. Pantalets were worn by both boys and girls, with boys usually wearing plain pantalets, and girls wearing fancier ones. Sailor suits were typically boys’ clothing, but they eventually became unisex as girls began to wear them too.
In conclusion, children’s clothing has undergone significant changes in trends and styles. The use of colors to differentiate between boys and girls has remained constant. However, conventions regarding what little girls and boys should wear have evolved with time. Dresses, bloomers, rompers, smocks, pinafores, and pantalets were staples in children’s wardrobes, but their popularity has waned recently. With time, it is interesting to see how children’s clothing will continue to evolve.
