The new school year is starting soon. Many children in grade school will have the opportunity to visit Pioneer or Historical Villages on field trips or as part of their curriculum. Often they will be asked to dress up in period clothing. Creating a Victorian outfit at the last minute can be a daunting task given our busy schedules.

I find it helpful to look at oldtime photos to get an idea of how people dressed. Keep in mind that folks back then probably would have put on their better outfits fif they knew they were going to be photographed. Robin Clark does a fantastic job of colorizing old photos making the people more relatable.

Young boys often wore short pants called knickers with a shirt or sweater, depending on the season. They also wore dark knee high socks and leather shoes or boots. Sometimes you see them wearing suspenders, a bow tie and flat cap.

Young girls wore more of a variety of dresses. The length could be anywhere from below the knee to ankle length. Lace, trim and ruffles were very popular. They also wore dark socks or what we now call leggings with leather shoes or boots. Girls often wore their hair in a ponytail or braid.