Skeleton Suit Detail

In the late-18th and early-19th centuries, some young Richmond boys wore a new style of dress called the ‘skeleton suit.’ This close-fitting garment was characterized by long trousers buttoned onto the waist of a short jacket or waistcoat. The high waistline and close fit reflected the neoclassical silhouette of women’s dress while the trouser legs facilitated movement for boys aged three to five years.