Childrens Clothing Learning Journey

Imagine being wrapped up so that all you can move are your eyes. Imagine boys dressed as girls. Imagine lying face down on the floor with your mother's foot in the middle of your back so that she can lace you tightly into your clothes... Click on steps 1 - 6 to find out more.....

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Childrens clothing learning journey Step 5: Underneath Before 1800 underwear wasn't really worn. Boys did not wear underpants, just a heavy cotton shirt long enough to wrap between the legs. Girls only wore a chemise (a long loose shift like a shirt) and petticoats. Around 1800 however trouser styles became narrow and figure hugging so boys, like their fathers, wore 'linings' (of cotton) for comfort and to protect the inside of their trousers. Cotton was cheap and easy to wash so personal hygiene improved. As the 19th century went on children, especially girls, wore more undergarments. By the 1850s girls wore corsets, pantalettes (mid calf length and trimmed with lace) and layers of calico petticoats. In 1890 girls were wearing cotton drawers with a shallow bodice, a cotton or flannel chemise (loose shift like a shirt), a corset, calico petticoats and woollen stockings; while boys wore a woollen vest and long johns (underpants which reached from waist to ankle) or combinations (vest and long johns in one garment usually made from stockinette) and woollen stockings. It wasn't until the latter half of the 20th century that children began to wear short light colourful underwear. Find out if children still wear woollen vests?

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