Sartorial Adventure

Philip Prospero, Prince of Asturias, 1659 (aged 2) by Diego Velazquez

This is an example of boy dressed in gowns in the first few years of his life. The more formal of the gowns that children of both sexes wore were based on the fashionable gowns that grown women of the period wore. It can be tricky to tell the difference between girls and boys in portraits, but boys' gowns were often plainer and less decorated, and they might be shown with accessories, toys, or pets meant to declare their gender.

Wikipedia says, "the painting directly admits the little boy's precarious health: from strings criss-crossing his chest and waist hang metal bells and at least two protective lucky amulets, a cornicello, and on the string across his left shoulder hangs a black object, likely a fig-hand carved of jet. By contrast, nearly thirty years earlier, Velazquez painted a robust Balthasar Charles at age two or three with a staff, sword, exuberant sash and plumed hat." You can see Balthasar Charles's portrait here, and I would note that it also includes a gorget, a piece of armor that goes around the throat. Very masculine!

Here is another portrait of Philip Prosper after he was "breeched", or transitioned from skirts to breaches.

^Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Pink Dress (1653), age 2, by Diego Velázquez

^After Velazquez

^Infanta Margarita Teresa (1655), age 4, Velázquez

Infanta Margarita in a White and Silver Dress (1656), age 5, Velázquez

^Las Meninas (1656), age 5, Velázquez

^Infanta Margarita Teresa of Spain in pink dress, attributed to Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo

^In hunting costume (didn't see a date for this one)

^Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress, 1659, age 8, Velázquez

^School of Diego Velázquez (1599-1660)

^Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Pink Dress (1660), age 9, by Velázquez or Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo

Infanta Margarita and her brother Felipe Próspero (ca. 1660-1661), age 9-10, attributed to Antonio de Pereda (I think the earrings look similar to the 1660 portrait)

^Margaret Theresa in red and silver silk dress, aged between 10 and 13 (1661-1664) (I think the earrings look similar to the 1660 portrait)

^Infanta Margarita Teresa in orange dress (1665), age 14, by Francisco Ignacio Ruiz de la Iglesia (this looks to me like the same stomacher and bodice as the 1661-64 portrait)

^By Gerard du Chateau (I don't have a date for this one, but those look like the 1660 earrings)

^By a follower of Diego Velazquez (I don't have a date for this one, but those look like the 1660 earrings)

^Infanta Margarita Teresa, 1666, aged 14, in mourning for her father, by Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo. She married later that year. (I think the earrings look similar to the 1661-64 portrait)

Infanta Margaret Theresa, Empress, in theater dress (1667), age 16, by Jan Thomas van Ieperen. (I'm pretty sure "theater dress" here means a costume for a play or masque. Still wearing those red ribbons in her hair!)

^I don't have a date for this one. Similar hair ribbons and earrings!

1970’s Silk Organza Evening Dress by Ruben Panis

Was looking this up and found the following information:

"Panis was a celebrated Filipino couture designer who dressed glamorous celebrities like Zsa Zsa Gabor and Liz Taylor. Panis’ career was tragically cut short when he was murdered in 1989 by serial killer Juan Chavez."