French Boys Clothes: Alain Paul, 1940s and 50s


Figure 1.--Alain and his brother Jcques seen here on vacation in southern France during 1946 with their mother. Alain Paul wears rompers. His little brother still wears a dress with a hair bow. They are dressed up for Sunday.

I would be pleased to describe for your HBC readers, how French boys were dressesd from the early 20th century to our modern day. I had a brother about my age. Our parents operated a factory making children's and womens' clothes until 1970. They liked to make and dress us in adorable garments. I have kept a a stock of the clothes they produced as well as extensive documentation about those clothes. I was born in 1943 and grew up in Paris. Thus I can recall the kinds of clothes that they produced and in which my brother and I were dressed beginning in the late 1940s. As children, my brother and I served many times as models for catalogues and their store.

English Version

I would be pleased to describe for your HBC readers, how French boys were dressesd frpm the early 20th century to our modern day. My parents operated a factory making children's and womens' until 1970. I have kept a a stock of the clothes they produced as well as extensive documentation abourt the clothes that they produced. I was born in 1943 and grew up in Paris. Thus I can recall the kinds of clothes that they produced and that my brother and I were dressed beginning in the late 1940s. As children, my brother and I were useful many time, serving as models for catalogues and ther store.

Information

Fashion publications unfortunately do not have extensive information on early children's clothing. Our clothing was marketed throughout France; in Belgium and in our overseas departments. I am pleased to present a page or perhaps several concerning boys' fashions of 1910 to 1970. My knowledge is precise and supported by very many documents. It inclused information on: baby clothes (1910-1970), rompers (origin to 1970), bloomer suits (1958 to 1964), short trousers (1910 to 1970), brother-sister ensembles, baptismal gowns (bonnetterie), and [bonnetterie jouets]. Bonnetterie is a general word describing all sorts of small garments such as stockings, underwear, hats etc.] I will document these pages with photographs; extractsfrom catalogue; owners knitting My own personal accounts only extend after October 1943 when I was born.

Our family

My Christian name is Alain Paul. [HBC note: It is common in France to have two or sometime three names. The second and third are chosen from the name of close relatives. Among respectable families it was once common to give the name of the godfather and godmother before a child's birth. Today this is still sometimes practiced.] I was given the name of my older brother as my second or middle name. He was tragically killed during the German invasion in 1940. I also had a younger brother about my age. Louis is the name of my uncle and godfather. I lived with him a great deal and considered him to be my second father. He was a Government official ("commis d'ètat"). My grandparents were very hard working and they owned several apartments and houses. The relations between my father's and mother's family were not good. Both families had money, but much was lost during World War II. After the War my mother was obliged to earn money. My granmother still used old French standards common in bourgeoise families. For instance a child, if necessery, could be raised by realtives rather than his own parents. My older brother was chosen, unfortunatly he died during the War. I came a bit later after my sister and one added his name at mine. I remember nothing at all, when I left for my Granmother's home, I was only 3 years old. Philosophical questions and consequences: deeply inside of my mind, and still to day; I have loved much more my grandfather than my father and it was the same about my granmother. I didn't feeled realy at home in my parents house; quite often when we came in Paris I was prefering to stay in my uncle's apartment with him and his housekeeper who became my nanny. My mother suffered of that and I was sad about this situation; though I didn't want to change.

My parents

My father came from a middle class family. His parents owned a boutique in a good Paris neghborhood. This boutique is now mine and I rent it. My mother's family strongly believed in traditional French principle and proper manners ("bonnes manières"). They were taught to me by both my mother and my uncle who I lived with for several years. When I was with my parents in Paris, my brother and I shared the same room.

World War II

Many French families suffered at the hands of the Germans during their World War II occupation of our country. My parents had to leave Paris and live in their country house to avoid the Germans. During the travel one of their children tragically died. My family never had to hide during the war. My father in 1939 when war was decalred was too old to be mobilized. He was 37 years old and had children. My Parents continued whit difficulties operating their clothing factory. My uncle was a high ranking government official throughout the War. When the German Army invaded our country during May and June 1940, in certain cities the order was given for the population to transfer the children and sometimes all civilians. Many civilians fled the advancing German army even without French Government instructions. As a result there was a mass exodus in some areas of northern France. The orders issued were absurd and created much public panic. The result was that many major highways were clogged with fleeing civilians. The Germans and even more so the Italians were often furrios when civilians blocked their way. Sometimes these innocent civilians were machined-gunned to claer the roads. My Parents had a country house in the Pithiviers (80 km from Paris). They decided to transfer their children there for saftey. As it was relatively close to Paris, they could still see them regularly. If the situation becam worse, they planned to send them to my grandparents who had a summer house near Cannes. I do not know the details of the actual incident, but my oldest brother was injured on the highway. My parents returned to Paris ro seek medical help for him, but he died 3 or 4 day later. They were of course iver come by grief. By that time the Germans were already near Paris. Later my Parents gave to me his name as my middle name.

My garments

To start I will tell the history of the rompers with documents relating to them. Children's clothes were an important part of the production at our parennt's factory. They liked to create and dress us boys in adorable garments. Both my yonger brother and I wore rompers--sometimes matching ones. We had matching print rompers when I was about 4 years old. I also wore blouses with romper pants. I will send to you my experiance as a boy when I wore rompers and "culottes courtes". Unlike many French boys, I never wore smocks much. My brother and I were larely raised separately. He although only a little younger, he did wear smocks a lot as a boy. We both of course wore short pants most of the time.

My Uncle

My uncle because of his position, often entertained and hosted parties and other gatherings. While living with my uncle I would often be presented to our guests. When I was younger I usually was dressed in rompers. As an older boy I wore short pants suits. Some of my uncle's guests were very importante persons of this period. I was very happy with my uncle and while I was very young I knew and liked that my uncle was an exceptional "Monsieur". Many people were very nice to me and I came to feel that this ambiance was normal. At this time my uncle socialized with many VIPs and I perfectly remenber this period of my life. I remember going through some of my old clothes that I found a few years ago in my uncle's house. It was in fact very emotional for me. I reconized some of them. I also noticed that almost all of the clothes weren't ones made in my parents factory. The only exception was my last romper suit. I think my uncle preferred to buy items himself or have them made. Perhaps they were gifts of his relations. I had a very large wardrobe ("trosseau") for a boy my age. This was not very commom for a boy at this time. Clothes were expensive and the economy had not yet recovered from the War. Many did not yet have good jobs.

Enfants modèles style

My mother and many other mothers from fashionable Fremch families at the time believed in what was called "enfants modèles". (HBC has also noted the term "garçon modèles".] There is no precise English translation, the literal translation, "model children", only hints at the meaning. In essence they believed that children, both boys and girls, should be dressed beautifully in fashionable clothes. Often very juvenile styles were popular to stress the innosence of childhood. Children were also expected to be obedient and mannerly. My uncle thought that a little boy should be obedient and clean and wear rompers or shorts pants to look good.

Travel

I was a very well-traveled boy. I lived in Paris, Toulon, Vienna (Austria) and in French Guyana during my childhood. My Parent's home was in Paris, but I went along everywhere with my uncle Louis. He was like a second father to me. As he was a Government official (commis d'ètat), he traveled a great deal. As I was a little older, he more often took me than my younger brother. As a boy, I spent a great deal of time with him.

Austria

I especially remember the time I lived in Austria during 1953-55. I have many fond memories from that country. It's quite easy to remember when one looks again photos and film. In Wiena (Vienna) they had a official service which used a camera 16mm I saw them 20 years ago at the SCA some period of 1952-1954 I had been altarboy (Chorknaben). We wore (eine Albe), a sort long dress with a rope at the waist. I remenber very well of my admiration for the singerboys--Vienna Choir Boys. People called them Sängerknaben in Austria. At this time they wore sailor suit blue long pants, Some times they came at Stefandom [I'm not sure what this is.]. Concerning the leather pants (lederhosen). There were not many Austrian boys wearing lederhosen when I was in Vienna during the early 1950s. The boys I knew that wore lederhosen called them "Tyro'kluft". Most Austria boys wore short pants. On Sunday they often wore a typical jacket grey/green with short pants and keesocks. As a French boy living in Austria, I observed but was not fully aware of some differences. We children were very affraid of Soviets. In fact half of Austria was occupied by the Sovierts unyil 1955. This was somewhat strange to me becaise at the time on France, people were still more afraid of the Germans than the Soviets. Also I learned on Austria that certain topics concerning the War couldn't be freely discussed.

Change

I have been always very happy excepted when I was about 12 years old. This was a painful period for me. I did not do well in school because I didn't known enought the french program. I wanted to enter in the Seminary and my parent didn't want this. The nanny who was always close to me left. My father was not very sensitive to all of this and much stricter than my uncle. Finaly I wanted to return to Austria. No long, just around Chrismas I left the house and I stolled in Paris streets during the night. Early in the morning I called with difficulties my uncle who was in Brussel. I told him that I was very unhappy; he anwsed that everybody was looking for me. One or two days later he came tomParis and brought me back with him to Belgium. In his car I cried a lot and snuggled against him. I still remember that trip to this day. He was also crying. That year I had two Chrismas days. My father began to be a little more understanding. Both my Parents becam very attemptive to me. My grades soon improved. I was one of the best of my class. I had even skipped a year. Often I helped my Mother in her work. I learned how to sew as well as the cuting. And quickly was able to repair the sew-machines.

Sunday

My mother would always dress us up for Sunday. When we were younger we wore first dresses and then romper outfits.

School

Unlike my brother who lived at home, I did not attend a regular school. Instead my uncle had me tutored in his house. A few other children were tutored with me. The result was very good. I got an exceptionally good education. I still have some of my school-work. Normaly school was compulsory. Home schooling was not as common as it is today. Once or more per year an inspector came from an academy to assess our academic progress. A note from one of these visits in 1949 read, "Alain Paul prèsente un niveau scolaire acceptable. Il s'exprime bien. Il comprend et parle couramment espagnol." I was 6 years old at the time.

Hair styles

When we were younger we had a "un cran" (a crimp) or "une choupette" (no English translation) in our hair hair. Choupette was a familiar name, but is not an official French word, that is recognized by the French Academy. [HBC mentions this because in English there is no such thing as an "official" English language.] It describes a small bunch of hairs dressed up and bound together with a knot. It was a big curl of hair placed at the middle head. Also we had to keep for some time a "bigoudi" or a "barette" in our hair. The style was actually quite common for boys in affluent families. Many mothers wanted their boys to look like "enfants modèles" (model children). This was most common from the 1930s through the early 1950s, but disappeared after the mid-1950s.

Discipline

I recall perfectly that as a boy practicly everybody was very nice to me. I was not spanked or slapped. The first time I was slapped, it was by my father. I was 11 or 12 years old. I was very shocked as my uncle who cared for me never struck me. My father in fact never struck me again. My uncle had a long talk with him. In contrast, my brother who was raised a home by my mother and father was sometimes punished with a spanking. My sister was such an obedient and polite child, I doubt if she was ever spanked. My uncle and nanny would sometimes admonish me if I did not do something sufficiently well. I was obliged to lower the head in such instances. At night in my prayers I would ask Mary and Jésus to help me be a good boy. I was in fact rarely punished. I was also the favoirite of my Granparents and Godfather. Of course I was a very obedient boy and was rarely naughty.

First Communion

There used to be two kinds of First Communions. These two types are still known today, but less common. The " première communion " (first communion) was a private and ordinary ceremony. Some young boys were allowed to recieve First Communion before 11-12 years old. The more common type was " la communion solennelle " (the solemn communion) which is a beautifull and important ceremony for French children. This ceremony is also often called first communion because most of the the children are recieving comminion for the first time in their lives. My First Communion was the first type and it took place in France, although I had been living in Austria for some time.

Displaced children/enfants déplacés

Many French children were displaced in one way or another during World War II (1939-45) or the immediate post-war period. I had this experience as I had to go with my uncle in his home for a while and did not come back to my parents for more than 10 years later. I was as little boy a well behaved child, perhaps a little more sensitive than other boys. At first my return to live with my parents was difficult. I didn't stay and this must have hurt my parents. They were hurt by my attitude. The situation was complicated by the fact that my uncle also suffered when I went home to my parents and we were separted. A few years ago I looked over our old photographs. My wife and I were very impressed by the loving relation that my uncle and I had. I coulden't hide my emotion when I heard myself calling him fati (daddy) and himself spoke very kindly to me. He used to call me "mein Schätzchen" (my little treassure). I don't absolutly remember my young years before I left home. I thought of my home as my uncle's house. And I don't remenber a close emotional contact with my mother and still less my father. My brother was always free and live rather in the street with other friend boys among a chummy atmosphere. It was just the opposite for me. Rarely was I was alone. Always an adult was near me. My uncle had a maid [?and it is true she was paying for that]. Many displaced children came homeafter the War and their reception varied greatly. It was not possible for me to go going to the [?steady] school like the others boys. I regret nothing except my attitude toward my Parents.

Aalain








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Created: September 30, 2001
Last updated: April 5, 2003