Childrens vintage dresses are a great way to introduce a child (specifically a girl) to the world of fashion, as well as vintage wear. Children’s clothing has changed a great deal throughout history. While we’re used to seeing children in modern-day clothing, they didn’t always wear such things as cotton and polyester blends. The following are some of the best children vintage dresses;
- 1940s-1950s
Children in the 1940s and 1950s typically wore dresses. These were much more feminine than modern children’s clothing, and included many ruffles and skirts. Young girls wore dresses that were much more elaborate than the boys, who usually just wore simple shirts and pants (though some did wear outfits similar to the girls). Boys and girls of this era usually wore dresses until they were aged 4-5.
- 1900-1930s
Children in the early 20th century usually wore dresses, and these dresses were very different than those worn during the early 20th century. The dresses that were popular during this time were usually handmade or even ordered from catalogs that would advertise their new arrivals. Boys typically wore dark pants, while girls would wear ankle-length skirts.
- 1700-1900s
Older children in America, including boys, typically wore dresses up until they were aged 7 or 8. This was because of how harsh living conditions could be on clothing; it would often be easier to just start them off with a dress and then transition them into pants and shirts as they grew older and better able to care for themselves (presumably). Older boys sometimes wore pinafores over their dresses during the 18th and 19th centuries.
- 1800s
While boys wore dresses until they were aged 7 or 8, girls would usually stop wearing them at around age 4. This was because dresses could be difficult to move around in, so once children started becoming more active (likely by age 3), they would start wearing more practical styles of clothing. Boys at this time typically wore white blouses with dark pants.
- 1700s-1800s
For the most part, little changed for young children throughout history up until the 17th century, when parents began dressing their young children like miniature versions of adult men and women. For example, during the 18th century, both girls and boys wore dresses that had lace on them; only the color of these dresses varied between genders. As society began to become more formalized, children’s styles became more and more similar to adult clothing.
- 1600-1700s
During this time, children were usually clothed like miniature versions of adult men and women. Boys would wear dresses until they were aged 7 or 8, at which point girls would start wearing them (boys would begin to receive pants around the same age). Clothing was very expensive, so it could be difficult for parents to keep clothes in good enough condition to pass down to younger siblings. Therefore, many young people had only one outfit that they wore throughout their entire childhoods.
Now that you know some of the history behind vintage children’s fashion, you can decide whether or not it’s something that interests you. You can also decide on a particular era that seems to interest you most.