Historical Fancy Dress

School Boy

(Back to school time with an Edwardian schoolboy costume, which was probably an easy fancy dress choice for a young boy who could simply use his own school clothes or uniform.  Yes, despite the long hair, that's a boy.)

Straw hat; blue and white or red and white striped blouse; white or blue flannel trousers with stockings to match; laced shoes.

Source:
Masquerades, Tableaux and Drills.  New York: The Butterick Publishing Company, 1906.

Brownie

(A brownie costume for a boy or a group of boys that's more creepy than charming.)

This costume is of brown cloth with yellow bands, buttons and cap trimming.  Yellow stockings and brown pointed slippers.  Where a number of "Brownies" are to appear, the costume may be made of khaki, duck or like material, and may be of any combination of colors, bright hues being preferred.

Source:
Masquerades, Tableaux and Drills.  New York: The Butterick Publishing Company, 1906.

Richard I, Coeur-de-Lion

(This is listed as a boy's costume, though there's no reason a man couldn't wear it as well.)

The 1887 description:

RICHARD I., COEUR DE LION.  In a maroon velvet tunic trimmed with gold lace, three lions couchant embroidered in gold on the breast; white silk tights; velvet trunks; gold and satin shoes; jewelled belt, sword, and dagger.

The 1880 version differs only in making the lions courant (running) instead of couchant (lying down).  Historically, Richard I appears to have used a device with the three lions passant gardant (striding, facing toward the viewer.)

Sources:
Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 2nd Edition, Illustrated.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1880.
Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 5th Edition.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1887.

Astrologer

(This sounds like the Victorian version of Harry Potter!  The costume is intended for a boy, though I suppose a man could do something similar.  I'm not sure how "toga" and "sleeves" go together.)

Long velvet toga, with wide hanging sleeves, bordered with satin, bearing the signs of the zodiac in gold; high pointed velvet cap, entwined with a gold snake; wizard's wand, large spectacles, book, and telescope; long pointed shoes.

Sources:
Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 2nd Edition, Illustrated.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1880.
Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 5th Edition.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1887.

Fly Costume for Boy of Four

(Here's another insect costume, this one apparently for a boy so young that he's not yet breeched (put into trousers of some kind rather than dresses), as the outfit is basically a dress.  I suspect this is why the age is specified in the title of the costume.  Nowadays this would probably not be a popular choice for a boy's costume, but might work for a little girl, so I'm cross-listing it.  No illustration, alas!)

Golden-yellow satin skirt, ornamented with black braid and studded with small gauze flies.  The sort upper skirt forms a sort of long basque and is sewn to the waistband; rows of gold braid across the high bodice, and round the short sleeves, loose jacket ornamented with gauze; fly in the centre of back, an smaller ones in front; black velvet toque, with gold band round, a gold fly fastening down aigrette.

Source: Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 5th Edition.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1887.

Grenadier

(An eighteenth-century military costume for a boy, though there's no particular reason an adult couldn't wear something similar.  Click the image to enlarge)

(1760) High white gaiters buttoned to the knee; blue coat turned back with red; red cuffs; white waistcoat and breeches; red and white pointed cap; sword; hair in pigtail.

Source: Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 5th Edition.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1887.

Jockey

(Another good one for a boy.  The colors of the blouse and cap could be altered; jockey silks come in a wide range of colors and patterns, each representing a different owner.)

Blouse of blue satin with white rings, cap of same material with white peak.  White cloth breeches; black boots with white tops.

Source: Masquerades, Tableaux and Drills.  New York: The Butterick Publishing Company, 1906.

Rough Rider

(Fancy dress balls for children were very popular, and the patriotic early twentieth-century mother could dress her son in the style of Teddy Roosevelt's unit from the Spanish-American War.)

Costume of khaki cloth, duck or canvas, with leggings to match.   The trimmings may be of red, blue or yellow, with brass buttons.  Tan felt hat with crossed sabres.