When Did Girls Start Wearing Pink?

[DGUtley]

Every generation brings a new definition of masculinity and femininity that manifests itself in children’s dress. -- Pink and blue arrived as colors for babies in the mid-19th century; yet, the two colors were not promoted as gender signifiers until just before World War I.

Little Franklin Delano Roosevelt sits primly on a stool, his white skirt spread smoothly over his lap, his hands clasping a hat trimmed with a marabou feather. Shoulder-length hair and patent leather party shoes complete the ensemble. We find the look unsettling today, yet social convention of 1884, when FDR was photographed at age 2 1/2, dictated that boys wore dresses until age 6 or 7, also the time of their first haircut. Franklin’s outfit was considered gender-neutral.

Pink wasn't always for girls -- For example, a June 1918 article from the trade publication Earnshaw's Infants' Department said, “The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” Other sources said blue was flattering for blonds, pink for brunettes; or blue was for blue-eyed babies, pink for brown-eyed babies, according to Paoletti. In 1927, Time magazine printed a chart showing sex-appropriate colors for girls and boys according to leading U.S. stores. In Boston, Filene’s told parents to dress boys in pink. So did Best & Co. in New York City, Halle’s in Cleveland and Marshall Field in Chicago.

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Why is President Franklin D. Roosevelt Wearing a Dress?

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[Standing Wolf]

And yet, when a few department and clothing stores began putting all the kids' clothes (and toys) together four or five years ago, social media blew up with accusations that they were supporting "transgender rights", ambiguous sexuality, etc.

People have an unfortunate tendency to think that the way things are now are the way they've always been, and to react badly when things they took for granted change or go away - as though some essential fact of existence were being denied.

I've got photos of my maternal grandfather as an infant and toddler, taken ca. 1905-1907, in which he was dressed in white, lacy gowns.

[Cotton1]

And yet, when a few department and clothing stores began putting all the kids' clothes (and toys) together four or five years ago, social media blew up with accusations that they were supporting "transgender rights", ambiguous sexuality, etc.

People have an unfortunate tendency to think that the way things are now are the way they've always been, and to react badly when things they took for granted change or go away - as though some essential fact of existence were being denied.

I've got photos of my maternal grandfather as an infant and toddler, taken ca. 1905-1907, in which he was dressed in white, lacy gowns .

I can top that. I am wearing a white lacy gown right now, and I'm 6'1 220 lb
Republican.

[nathanbforrest45]

I remember about 25 years ago when pink shirts for men came back on the market. I was in the Men's department of a well known department store. I looked at the pink shirt and said to the salesman "What, pink for men?" The salesman, being a master at his trade, said, yes but you would have to be very sure of your manhood to buy one. Of course I then had to buy three!!

Seriously, this actually happened to me.

I have photos of my uncles from around the early 1900's wearing dresses at the age of 4 or 5. Boys didn't wear long pants until they started high school in many places. At one time men wore "cod pieces" to augment the size of their junk. We wouldn't think of doing this now. (would we??)

But that was then and this is now and the fashions of the current era are the only ones that count to those living in the current era.

[nathanbforrest45]

I can top that. I am wearing a white lacy gown right now, and I'm 6'1 220 lb
Republican.

[Standing Wolf]

I remember about 25 years ago when pink shirts for men came back on the market. I was in the Men's department of a well known department store. I looked at the pink shirt and said to the salesman "What, pink for men?" The salesman, being a master at his trade, said, yes but you would have to be very sure of your manhood to buy one. Of course I then had to buy three!!

Seriously, this actually happened to me.

I have photos of my uncles from around the early 1900's wearing dresses at the age of 4 or 5. Boys didn't wear long pants until they started high school in many places. At one time men wore "cod pieces" to augment the size of their junk. We wouldn't think of doing this now. (would we??)

But that was then and this is now and the fashions of the current era are the only ones that count to those living in the current era.

Living in Arizona - where it's been upwards of 118 degrees some days this past week - I frequently have cause to think about the fact that short pants used to be, except for when a guy was swimming or engaged in some sporting activities, considered a little boy's article of clothing. I have been in crowds when it wasn't even particularly hot and I was the only guy in sight wearing long trousers. Guys in their eighties with fishbelly white legs that looked like a Georgia roadmap. Ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with my own legs - so I've been told - but I don't think I've owned a pair of short pants since the mid-'70s.

[carolina73]

Not knowing any of the history, I just thought that pink was a more fun/less serious color and that is why little girls were associated with bright colors like pink.
Blue is more serious, duller, boring and meant for the male that is supposed to be in training to work and raise a family. They were meant to get dirty. A business suit is blue/black/gray not pink or yellow unless you are a pimp. Even wearing white socks was against the rules when I was a boy and bright color socks were also going to get you teased or in a fight.

[nathanbforrest45]

I'm 75 years old and I wear whatever the hell I want! Right now I am wearing brown shorts, a bright red shirt, black suspenders (I don't have a waist or an ass that will hold my pants up!) I generally wear very weird socks. I have a pair of "The Scream", I have a pair of Einstein's portrait (I tell everyone those are my identification socks in case I forget who I am), I have a piano keyboard pair and about 20 other pairs of off beat socks. Now, when I go on a business call I wear a blue/grey suit with brown shoes, black socks, white or off white shirt and a bowtie (got to keep its somewhat weird so they will remember me). When I lived in Jacksonville I knew people who lived at the beach who didn't own a pair of long pants or socks.

[TheOneOnly2]

Bret Hart wore pink. Hot pink was a pretty cool colour for boys in the late 80s. I used to own some black shiny track pants that had two hot pink stripes down the side of each leg - they were awesome. I also got my dad to buy some hot pink skateboard grip for my skateboard and he cut it out in a zigzag pattern for me and we stuck it on - it looked awesome on my big black 80s skateboard.

[Peter1469]

I can top that. I am wearing a white lacy gown right now, and I'm 6'1 220 lb
Republican.