During the 1600's, boys and girls in England wore dresses until they were about seven years old.
When Boys Wore Dresses: England's Breeching Tradition
If you traveled back to 1600s England and saw a group of young children playing, you'd have a hard time telling the boys from the girls. That's because until around age six or seven, all children wore dresses, regardless of gender. This wasn't a fashion faux pas—it was standard practice across all social classes.
The transition from dresses to breeches (knee-length trousers) was such a big deal that families threw parties for it. The ceremony was called "breeching," and it marked one of the first major milestones in a boy's life. It signaled his passage from babyhood into boyhood, when he'd begin learning the skills and responsibilities expected of men.
Why Keep Boys in Dresses?
The reasons were entirely practical. First, there was the diaper situation—or lack thereof. Without modern disposable diapers, loose-fitting gowns made toilet training (and accidents) much easier to manage. Breeches, on the other hand, required navigating buttons, buckles, and complex fastenings that tiny hands simply couldn't handle.
Second, clothes were expensive. Before the Industrial Revolution, every garment was hand-sewn, and fabric was costly. Dresses and gowns were designed to be loose and flowing, which meant they could accommodate a rapidly growing toddler. You could get several years of wear from one garment, whereas fitted breeches would need constant replacement.
Third, there was the question of physical development. Young children weren't expected to control their bodily functions or dress themselves until they reached what was called the "age of reason"—generally around seven years old. Breeching coincided with this milestone, marking the point when a boy was considered mature enough to handle his own clothing.
The Big Day
When breeching day arrived, it was treated as a genuine celebration. The boy would be dressed in miniature versions of adult male clothing:
- Breeches (knee-length trousers)
- Waistcoats
- Frock coats
- Stockings
- Leather shoes
- Sometimes even a hat or wig
Families often commissioned portraits to commemorate the occasion. Many museums today house paintings of young boys proudly displaying their first pair of breeches, standing tall in their new "big boy" clothes.
A Centuries-Long Tradition
What's remarkable is how long this practice lasted. Breeching wasn't just a 1600s thing—it continued well into the late 1800s and early 1900s in parts of Europe and America. Even President Franklin D. Roosevelt was photographed in a dress as a toddler in the 1880s.
The tradition only faded when children's clothing became more affordable and practical designs emerged. The invention of elastic waistbands, zippers, and snap fasteners made it possible for younger children to wear pants without needing adult help. Modern attitudes about gender-specific clothing also played a role in ending the practice.
So the next time you see an old portrait of a child in a dress, don't assume it's a girl. There's a good chance it's a little boy waiting eagerly for his breeching day—the moment he'd finally get to wear pants like the grown-ups.