We note boys wearing rompers from infants to about 7 or less commonlu 8 years of age. They were most common for pre-school boys. While they were less common for older boys, we note that boys age 5-6 years often had a dressy romper suit for parties or special occassions. Generaly in the 1940-50s it was rather the petit garçon modèle of 6 and even 7 years wich were dressed in rompers. During the 1960s conventions changed somewhat. They were commonly worn by little boys no more 3 years. They were basically a pre-school garment which is why they were not commonly worn after age 6 years. Note the sewing pattern here in size 5-6 years for a boys' romper (figure 1). A HBC reader indicates that his brother wore rompers to age 5 and he wore them to age 6 years. Occasionallty boys as old as about 7 might also have worn them for formal dress occasions. One sewing garment showed a 5-6 years old boying playing at home in a rimper bottom outfit that had an elastic waist band. Our work here is complicated by the fact that we do not have the precise age of the boys in many of the romper images we have loaded. Thus we will have to estimate the ages. If readers think are estimates are in error, please let us know.

Infants

The age at which boys have worn rompers have varied over time thus complicating our assessment here. A French reader tells us that rompers were typical for boys 6 months to 6 years from the mid 1930s through the mid 1950s. This was the classic period for rompers in France. Infants are still dressed in rompers in France, but not as commonly as in the classic period. Also infant girls are now dressed in rimpers.

Age 1

We are not sure how common rompers were for infants when they first appeared. We think infant dresses were probably more common. After the 1960s, rompers became increasingly less common for older pre-school boys and were mostly worn by infants and youngr toddlers. We also notice little girls beginning to wrar them.

Age 2

The photographic record suggests that boys began wearing rompwee suits at about age 2 years. We note a 2-year old French boy wearing a blue romper suit in 1999. We notice two boys, both 2 year olds wearng rompers in a 1956 sweing magazine. A photograph by the famed French photographer Doisneau shows a boy about 2-3 years old looking out a gable window. We see a portrait of a 2-year old with a dressy hairdo in 1949.

Figure 1.--Here we see a French boy with his mother and perhaps an aunt in 1952. He looks to be about 3-years old.

Age 3

Rompers were very common for 3 year olds through the 1950s. During the 1960s conventions changed somewhat. They were commonly worn by little boys no more 3 years. A postcard used in 1933 shows a boy who looks to be about 3-4 years of age. A family snapshot shows a little boy about 3 years old in a romper suit. A magazine cover from 1949 shows a family scene with a boy about 3 years of age. A 1947 portrait shows 2 and 3 year old brothers wearing matching rompers. We also notice a boy who looks to be about 3 years old wearing a fancy romper suit, probably an Easter outfit.

Age 4

Rompers were very popular for 4-year olds in France. We see quite a few boys in the photographic record wearing different kinds of rompers ar age 4 years, both in the maternelles (nursery schools) and at home. Catalogs in the late 1950s were showing rompers for boys up to about 4-5 years. Another French reader writes, "About the acceptable romper age, rompers durings the 1940s and 50s were very popular boy through age 4 years. French boys now wear rompers are mostly infants and todlers. We note a 4 year old boy who had his portrait taken dressed in a romper. A 1959 newspaper ad offered rompers in sizes up to 4 years. Another family snapshot shows a little French boy about 4 years old fishing with his brother in 1952. A advertising for embroidery showed a boy about 4 years old in a bib-front romper suit worn with a blouse. We also notice boys wearing rompers with gilets (short sweaters).

Age 5

Rompers were most common for pre-school boys. While they were less common for older boys, we note that boys age 5-6 years often had a dressy romper suit for parties or special occassions. They were basically a pre-school garment which is why they were common for boys up to about age 5 years of age. A HBC reader indicates that his brother wore rompers to age 5 and he wore them to age 6 years. The painting we have used to introduce the French romper section looks to us to be a boy about 5 years old. We note another family snapshot with a boy about 5 years old wearing a patterened romper suit. Boys did not normally wear romper outfits to school. We do, hoever, seem them in nursery schools.

Age 6

As boys began school at about age 6 years, rompers were not not commonly worn after age 6 years. But some 6 year olds did wear rompers and some wore them to primary school. One 1950 sewing pattern showed a 5-6 years old boying playing at home in a romper bottom outfit that had an elastic waist band. The photograph record shows that 6 years olds did wear rompers. It was not real common because rompers were mostly seen as a pre-school garment, but some mothers dressed boys for school in rompers. It is not always clear in available image how old the boys were. School portraits are hlpful because we know boys began primary school at age 6. One photograph shows two brothers, 4 and 6 years old, wearing matching rompers in 1949. Generaly in the 1940-50s it was rather the petit garçon modèle of 6 and even 7 years wich were dressed in rompers. We also see the brothers in romper suits for an outing in 1949.

Age 7

Occasionallty boys as old as about 7 might also have worn them for formal dress occasions. We note boys wearing rompers up to about 7 or less commonly 8 years of age during the late 40s and early 1950s. A 1947 sewing magazine had a variety of romper patterns, including romper outfits or boys up to 7 years. It is the suspender romper pants that appear to be for the 7-year old. The full rompersuits seem to be for the younger boys.

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Created: 6:15 PM 2/28/2005
Last updated: 6:35 PM 7/14/2011