Discover New England Living History!

Children’s Clothing
in the 1830s
W hen you visit Old Sturbridge Village, no doubt one of the first things you notice is the way that people dress. 1830s style
is very different from today! Styles changed a lot at this time. So did the way clothing was made.

For many years, people made cloth at home. Those who lived in a town like Sturbridge would have to take many steps to make cloth.
Farmers had to shear wool from a sheep. Women cleaned the wool, spun it into yarn, dyed it using plants and other things from
nature, wove it on a loom, and then made the fabric into clothing. It’s not surprising that many people in the 1700s and early 1800s
only had a couple outfits to wear!

By the 1830s, there were many textile factories in New England. These factories made cheap,
colorful, and fashionable fabrics from cotton. A general store, like OSV’s Asa Knight Store,
would have had lots of fabrics for sale. Some people who lived very far away from a shop
still had to make all their own fabric at home. This type of fabric is called homespun. Most
rural residents could afford to purchase stylish cloth. They
could also afford more clothing. Fashion magazines
became more popular. People would also write letters
to city-dwelling friends and family to hear about new
styles. Women still had to make clothes by hand: the
sewing machine wasn’t invented until 1846!

So what did kids wear in the 1830s? Babies—both boys and girls—would wear white gowns.
These dresses were long for growing children. Drawstrings helped the dress fit as the child
grew. Baby clothing today is designed to make it easy for parents to change a baby’s diaper.
Parents in the 1830s had the same idea! The gown made it easy to change the baby’s diapers,
or napkins, as they were called at the time. Babies would also wear caps on their heads and
stockings on their feet. Girl and boy toddlers wore dresses, too.
Around age three or four, kids no longer needed diapers and would start helping with chores.
At this time, children dressed a little like adults. Girls dressed a lot like their moms, only their
dresses were shorter. They got longer as they got older.

Here is what girls wore everyday:

• Shift: a long, cotton undergarment, also used as a nightgown
• Stays: Older girls wore this stiff undergarment for their posture and to make their waists smaller
• Pantalets: Also called drawers, two legs attached to a waistband. These often had pretty cuffs.
• Petticoat: A short skirt worn under the dress
• Stockings: Like tall socks, held up with a garter, or ribbon
• Gown: A dress made from cotton or wool, often colorful or with a pattern
• Apron: To protect the gown during hard work
• A bonnet on their head

Here is what boys wore everyday:

From ages four to eight, boys at this time would move from wearing
dresses to wearing pants. Here is what boys wore:
• Shirt: Long, and made from cotton or wool
• Pantaloons: Or trousers, also made from cotton or wool
• Suspenders: To hold up the trousers
• A vest & hat
• A coat: Either a surtout (a long coat), spencer (waist-length), or a frock for outside
work, depending on age
• Neck cloth: A colorful triangle of cloth, tied around the neck
• Stockings

How does this clothing compare to what you wear today?

Both boys and girls would wear shoes made from leather. Earlier in America’s history, shoes
were very expensive. Many poor and middle-class people went without shoes in the warmer
months. By the 1830s, shoes were cheaper. Shoemakers in Massachusetts made about 15
million pairs of shoes a year. This meant most people could afford shoes and could replace
them when they wore out.
Because of factories, it was easier to find trendy clothing and accessories. It was important
for young men and women to look stylish, just as it is today. Teenagers who earned their own
money would use their wages to buy stylish items for their wardrobes. Other teens would request money from their parents
to do the same thing! Even though clothing has changed a lot over the last 180 years, kids’ desire to look cool and fashionable
hasn’t changed at all!

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2-3, 7; 4.2-3; 5.2, 8; 6.1, 7 nieonline.com/courantnie