Sailor Suits for Children
Retailers selling classic sailor-style outfits for children
Sailor suits are one of the oldest fashions in children's clothing, a nautical style adapted from naval uniforms in the nineteenth century and still sold today for portraits, weddings, holidays and special occasions. The defining pieces are the sailor collar with its square back panel and contrasting trim, a neckerchief or tie at the front, and a middy blouse or jacket paired with shorts, pants or a pleated skirt. Retailers listed here stock the style across the children's age range: sailor rompers and sunsuits for babies, shorts sets for toddlers and boys, and sailor dresses with middy collars for girls, most often in navy and white, with red accents and all-white versions for ceremonies and photographs. Fabrics range from crisp cotton and cotton broadcloth for warm weather to wool blends for formal winter portraits. Because the look is deliberately traditional, sizing follows ordinary clothing sizes, and the better sets finish the collar trim, buttons and neckerchief as separate, well-made pieces rather than printed imitations.
Children's Sailor Suit Stores - Children's Sailor Suits
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All Christening
(United Kingdom) at All Christening they supply award
winning christening & baby gifts and designer christening & baby outfits
- that get "Ooohs" and "Aaahs" on baby's special day.
- Christening Outfits
- Christening Gowns
- Christening Rompers
- Sailor Suits
Sailor Suits
A Naval Uniform Turned Children's Classic
Children's sailor suits became fashionable after the British royal family dressed young princes in miniature naval uniforms in the 1840s, and by the early twentieth century the style was standard dress-up wear on both sides of the Atlantic. The children's version softened the uniform into washable cottons, added the decorative collar braid, and kept the neckerchief as a tied scarf or a stitched-in insert for small children. Specialty retailers keep the style alive today in its traditional form, alongside modern variations in lighter fabrics and softer construction for babies.
When buying, judge the collar first: it should lie flat, its trim should be sewn rather than printed, and the neckerchief should fasten securely. White sailor suits photograph beautifully but show every mark, so many families choose navy with white trim for active toddlers. Complete the outfit with plain shoes and, for the full traditional effect, a sailor cap or hat, which the same retailers stock in matching sizes.
Common Questions
What makes an outfit a sailor suit?
The sailor collar is the signature: a wide collar that forms a square panel across the back, usually edged with contrasting braid or stripes, worn with a neckerchief or soft tie. Boys' sets pair a middy top with shorts or pants, while girls' versions include sailor dresses with pleated skirts and the same collar treatment.
For what occasions are children's sailor suits worn?
They are a classic choice for portraits, weddings where children are in the party, christenings and ceremonies, patriotic holidays, and Easter and spring photographs. The style reads formal without being a suit, which is why photographers and grandparents have favored it for generations.
How do sailor suit sizes run?
They follow standard children's clothing sizes by age and height. For babies, sailor rompers come in month sizes; for older children, check chest and torso length, since the middy top should sit comfortably over the waistband of the shorts, pants or skirt it is paired with.
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