The Sartorialist

classy (sincerely)

WOW beautiful pictures. You r so cosmopolitan. You're all over the world.

Very very very cute! Great photos!

I commented earlier about the girl who appears to be the eldest daughter. In light of these pictures of the younger children, the first photograph you offered really stands out as a great portrait. The other pictures are charming; the children are beautiful and without affect. This new batch give a slice of life, but the first photo is a novel.

Too cute!!

Mom's cap says Mennonite to me. Married Amish women tend to wear less revealing caps and their hair is tightly drawn down.

Both Amish and Mennonite wear sneakers. It's kind of funny at first seeing 'em in black reeboks at first but hey, why not if it's good for their feet?

I'm going to say not Hutterite given Mom's hair isn't the rolled style. Then again, PA's full of smaller Anabaptist sects.

What a beautiful family!

http://www.FashionSnag.com

These photos are a breath of fresh air, and only further attest to your ability to present subjects in their most flattering and honest light. Beautiful. So. Beautiful.

Hand made:
myclosetinsketches.com

Dress on last photo is beautiful. Great pictures!

Lovely images, that little girls rose print dress is so cute.

http://www.ashleigh-chapman.blogspot.com

What little sweethearts!

simple and natural and beautiful

So, so cute! I love their hair

http://itscohen.blogspot.com/

very nice:)

There is so much beauty in simplicity.

LOVE! So real and refreshing!!! And those girl's darling braids! Love LOVE LOVE! Please do more photos like this! :)

We could wish that all of the children in America looked this good, sweet, and decent. Excellent photos.

Why do some children always have a sad, faraway look in their eyes? The pictures are beautiful.

A few things. I see it isn't just you, Scott, who garners derision from the fair maiden in your first picture. She's really giving her caregiver a bit of the old stink eye in your second photo, which I find really funny and revealing. Second thing, for those of you who find yourselves with a sudden hankering for calico, I've found a Mennonite dress web site, so go nuts with it.
http://www.mennonitemaiden.com/dresses1.html

The prints are so Liberty's, or Laura Ashley. Lovely!

Beautiful!

These photos seem to be "frozen in time"…

That is why I love vintage items, architectural landmarks, etc….The attention to detail, standards of excellence and one-of-a-kind.
These children are so well styled and look so wholesome and so happy…

the simple life!

would love to squeeze those cheeks!

http://jimjims.net

such a cool perspective and concept for these photos. and, needless to say, the kids are adorable.

I absolutely l.o.v.e these. You've inspired me.

Beautiful shots!! A totally different but serene style here. Thanks for posting.

Stephanie
http://www.edgeandgrace.com

Thanks for publishing the rest of the family pics. Puts the first one in a context. They really are lovely.

ditto Anon who said the first photo is a novel. With this series of photos I'm a sartorialist fan for life. I found them so interesting I forgot about the fashion angle –til I saw the girl with the long dark braids with the teal smock apron over the yellow dress…the colors…the print…i love

i ♥ them

I'm surprised they let you take a picture of them- but judging by the hair clip and the sneakers- they are a bit more progressive than your average Amish family, unless they are Mennonites. Regardless, they are a beautiful family and I am glad they allowed you to share their beauty with us.

these pictures are out of this world

xoxo,
F

lekisskiss.blogspot.com <– Texas gal bloggin fashion from NYC!

I am so happy you are doing this. City street photography and style is great, don't get me wrong, I just think their is a serious disconnect these days with some of the more exuberant styles of the city and the more traditional style of more rural areas. Maybe it is just me, living in the way deep south, in a very conservative area, but I definitely know the area these photos come from.

great photos from an art perspective, and great inspiration from a fashion one. personalities can be so different that it is hard to tell whether some of the people on this blog (especially kids) pulled the first things out of the closet or carefully mixed prints and textures…but either way you remind us that fashion comes in many forms. thanks!

wow. so priceless

Definitely not Amish. I live in Lancaster County and, believe me, their clothes are a LOT flashier than those of an Amish family!

I love these! Especially the little girl at the top – love her shy/mischievous expression!!

Now this is a true gem! Are you sure you didn't plant them there?

Look at the amazing arms on that woman! Great to see such a strong woman and her beautiful children.

Scott, these pictures immediately reminded me of the countless school trips and afternoons at Connor Prairie. Makes me miss my hometown.

so adorable!!! gorgeous! one doesn't need to be rich or to "in fashion" to be graceful…

the older girl with the braids is haunting… my favorite thing is her bare feet

So very sweet. The first little girl with the sneakers is simply adorable. I just want to squeeze her!

You are the best, Mr. Schuman

……its awesome as usual… thanks a lot for sharing this beautiful pictures Mr. Schuman…..

YOU SHOULD PUBLISH A BOOK, YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT??

what is the story behind this wonderful family?

cant stop looking at them!

http://jonathonfashionvictim.blogspot.com

i love these!!

hushordie.blogspot.com

sweet subjects & photos!

http://www.benchesandchandeliers.com

I look at your blog everyday nearly w/out fail. THESE PICTURES ARE THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR WITHIN YOUR OEUVRE. -seriously, I am a photographer,dealer&artworldly guy. I just know these things. Maybe shooting in the EU has give your mind's eye new goggles for the US. Now, please stay in NYC for awhile. I love seeing your people in places I know (esp. SoHo, my 'hood). Best, PvaC

You came to my home state! Welcome. I hope we treated you well. Thank you of capturing the Simple Life so well in these pictures.

Much love!
- Vanessa
http://theweeklyyogi.wordpress.com

They're all cute…

I need to add WITNESS to my DVD queue.

http://www.jasonromaine.com

What is with the odd obsession over girls' modesty in comments recently, in so many posts?
Truly disturbing, when acknowledging that society-imposed standards of 'modesty' have been used to shame and control women's behavior for centuries.

To the extent that these standards are religion-imposed (which they often are, no matter what religion one is talking about), girls of the age depicted here do not necessarily have any active choice in their display of modesty, nor in the fact that their value in society is determined by their 'modesty'.
I do not know what these girls in particular feel, of course, but the unreflected romanticizing here of something than can be very problematic is really disturbing.

I think the first picture, the girl with the dress and the sneakers is your best picture ever.

cute :)

bellissime *

rivieramare.blogspot.com

There is something so beautiful about seeing little girls wearing dresses. I'm going to dress my girls in pretty printed dresses. :)

Absolutely beautiful children…. I keep wondering where have all the purity disappeared from my teenaged children and also today's children?

These are faces that I see on a regular basis, living in the heart of Amish/Mennonite country, here in Lancaster County. Welcome to the simple life!

There ARE angels among us…just beautiful and thank you for posting these

the last 2 shots are brilliant! nice to have a break from the beautiful people.

I really love them !!!!!!

http://audreyismyfavourite.blogspot.com

Adorable!

I am speechless… Great pictures. Open mind… I love it.

the last pic is amazing

shes a great model too

Perfect….

I'm getting seriously tired of people romanticising so-called "modesty" and "restraint" in comments lately. It's just so… ignorant. Ignorant of centuries of religious, political and psychological oppression of women. I know people get uncomfortable around young people's and children's sexuality (the term is used broadly here), but just learn to deal with it healthily. A sixteen year old girl, whether you like it or not, is, biologically, a sexual being.

That being set aside, I appreciate your photographic work. Inspiration can come from the most unexpected of places, and you make the most amazing portraits.

Gorgeous children. So nice to see kids dressed like children, not mini-adults.

ML, none of these children are sixteen. Living in a world where people think their view is the only view, only furthers YOUR ignorance. I don't in any way feel oppressed in the liberal city I'm from, and in fact even feel pressured to uncover because apparently thats what men expect young women to do. Frankly, I'm appalled you would even attempt to justify yourself by claiming a sixteen year old is a sexual being and should show herself as such. Your logic only further pigeon holes women into being the object of sexual desire when many women actually want more than that. This family wants to build a home, and I would venture to say many modern women reading this blog want to build a career. Both can be done without sexuality.

These photos aren't meant to demean the children for the life they have, but credit them for having poise, life, and vibrancy in a culture we don't understand. I just adore the young boy who looks as though he just got caught nicking one of those blackberries in his wagon.

ML-you are ignorant, as is your trying to bring sexuality into a conversation where it isn't really relevant. There IS an adult in these photos, one who is obviously supervising these children. Just try to enjoy the photos, nothing more, nothing less. Jeez again.

The image of the young boy in overalls in the blueberry wagon is what summer outdoors for a kid should be all about! That and climbing trees of course.

Just absolutely love the hues here – the red wagon, the blues on the boy's hat and outfit and the greens of the grass and the berry containers.

And the last photo is like a gorgeous Ralph Lauren Kids ad. Seriously.

This series of photos are quiet, innocent and beautiful.

The most beautiful children. This post was refreshing to see such beauty in simplicity, and their joy is so pure. I love this.

These pictures made my day a little bit better. They are beautiful!

There's more to this family than their clothes. It's the light in their eyes that's beautiful.

I have never commented on here, but these images moved me. They are sweet and wholesome and remind me that simple is always best. Kardoules <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

So beautiful! My younger sister once attended gymnastics camp at Woodward, and on the way to pick her up, I had the pleasure of riding through Amish country with my parents on the way to a family vacation in the Adirondacks. These photos really capture the light of your subjects and remind me of how inspiring utter simplicity can be :)

How cute is the little boy in his cute little cap! Beautiful pictures! Thank you

funny post love it

I agree with other commenters who have said they're disturbed by the obsession with "modesty". These are children, they shouldn't have to worry about "modesty".
As for other recent comment threads, like the one about the 16 year old girl – the notion of modesty has been used to shame and oppress women all throughout history, and it's still being used that way. Women whould not have to be ashamed of their bodies or their sexuality. If you don't like women to dress "immodestly" then don't look at them.

i like these pictures capturing the styles of very different people groups. hope you keep this up.

Lovely photos, yet I find myself agreeing with the comment by Jennifer Hoak. I'm uncomfortable viewing these on this website not knowing whether the subjects gave informed consent("informed" meaning really understanding where and how the photos would be used). Without that, it feels objectifying and exploitative — though I absolutely know that is not your intent.

And while I understand the temptation to romanticize the subjects or their context (modest, simple), I think it's also important to acknowledge that we do not know what the subjects themselves think or feel. For example, my first reaction to the photo with all the kids was to cringe on behalf of the (presumed) mother and wonder how much choice she has/had. But that reaction is my projection and is as disrespectful of her as the romanticizing of modesty and simplicity that may also represent oppression and poverty. We just don't know.

The comments belie two things- 1.)Fashion people are not very intellectual. 2.) The intellectuals here do not visit for the fashion

I don't know why people would be upset over appreciating modesty. It's impossible to fill all the holes in either argument on a blog post but my thought is – tastefulness is balance. Many of us are blessed with that choice. Do we need to go to the extreme end of (not) dressing to flaunt our liberation?

Little girls in dirty dresses are perfectly attired, as far as I'm concerned. Play on, pretty monsters!

reminds of the west villages of turkey; red tractors and gorgeous eyes.

they are all so adorable. loving the photos !

http://faialofa.blogspot.com

3rd one – cuuute haha

i posted earlier, but it didn't go through!

these photos really evoke richard avedon's 'in the american west' to me. i think it's wonderful to see photographs that are representative of a different kind of place and lifestyle. i also love the texture given to the photographs by the natural surroundings and the dirt on the children's clothes. great work.

They are not Amish.

Nice to be visiting your blog .Pretty good photos.

i feel depressed when i look at. don't know why…

Stunning..really.

Lovely photos. I think more people are experimenting with simple living and moving toward conscious consumption… and perhaps this is a common ground we can find in these images. I appreciate the design and beauty of the things I have a lot more when I have less.

Current NY Times headlines are perhaps timely in this regard…

-Six Items or Less
-But Will It Make You Happy

i keep coming back to these photos even though they were posted several days ago.

i love them.

mostly for the top photo, of the little girl wearing tennis shoes, smiling impishly, not used to having her photo taken but absolutely comfortable in her own skin.

fashion or no, being comfortable in ones own skin is all one needs to have complete style.

these photos are amazing, so innocent and pure

you take the most beautiful pictures. i love the girl in the red cart. beautiful, beautiful. thank you.

Awww!

Beautifully shot. What light. Love love love.

magnific job!!!!

WHAT A JOB! The first shot its just amazing, the slippers and the way she hold her hands capture all my attention, so adorable, pretty and simple.

I came to your blog just when I was surfing on this topic. I am happy that I found your blog and information I wanted.

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manners!!!!…look at the way they fold their hands, n the way the taller daughter look at the mother!