Victorian Children’s Clothing and Fashion

The Victorian era was an interesting time for boys’ and girls’ fashion. Victorian children’s clothing for middle and upper classes were smaller versions of adult clothing with shorter hemlines and sturdier materials. Poor children wore simplified hand me down versions of outdated rich kids’ clothing. Boys and girls wore white gowns as infants and toddlers, graduating to suits, sailor clothes, or sporty knicker outfits for boys and long or short dresses with aprons for girls. Both genders wore button-up boots.  Young girls wore bonnets and boys wore caps and straw hats. Long coats and jackets kept them warm in winter.

The following is a decade-by-decade look at Victorian children’s clothing and kids’ fashion from my collection of pictures. If you need additional pictures or help researching Victorian children’s fashion,d contact me.

For ready to wear Victorian children’s costumes and clothing, look here.

1850s Children’s Clothing

1860s Children’s Clothing

1870s Children’s Clothing

1880s Children’s Clothing

1890s Children’s Clothing – Girls

1890s Children’s Clothing – Boys