Figure 1.--These outfits for boys 3-6 years of age appeared in a French Canadian fashion magazine in 1906. They look quite similar to the clothes American boys were wearing at the time. [L'album universel, Vol. 23, no. 1162, pp. 434 (4 août 1906)]
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Figure 1.--These outfits for boys 3-6 years of age appeared in a French Canadian fashion magazine in 1906. They look quite similar to the clothes American boys were wearing at the time. [L'album universel, Vol. 23, no. 1162, pp. 434 (4 août 1906)] |
Younger French Canadian boys like American boys were wearing tunic suits of various styles in at the turn of the 20th century. The styles seem quite similar, except the white collar in the one suit seems a bit smaller than worn by American boys. I'm not sire if this is a real difference or just variations in drawing styles. One interesting question is whether these same styles were worn by both English and French Candian boys are if the styles in French Canadian publications were different than those in Englosh-language publications. HBC is also not sure how these styles compare with English and French fashions. They were worn with long stockings. Two different outfits were offered here mothers that sewed or could afford a seamsress.
Both of these outfits appear to be tunic suits with matching tunics and knicker-length pants in matching material. These outfits would be worn by boys after breeching.
The ad copy read, "Vêtement de garçonnet de 3 à 6 ans. Ce petit vêtement très nouveau se compose de 5 pièces. Peut se faire en lainage, velours, petit drap etc. Matériaux 4 verges en 30 pouces de large." This translates in english to "Clothing of small boy from 3 to 6 years. This small very new clothing is composed of 5 parts. Can be done in woollen article, velvet, small cloth etc. Materials 4 rods in 30 inches broad." Note that this is a 5-piece garment. We are not at all sure just what those five pices were. The tyunic itself and matching pants are obvious. The other three pieces less so. Could they be the bely, bow and collar.
The ad copy read, "Blouse pour garçonnet de 3 à 6 ans. Blouse de forme nouvelle, ornéee de plis ronds encadrés d'un petit plissé de taffetas. Matériaux 2 verges en 48 pouces." Tunic for small boy from 3 to 6 years. Tunic of new form, adorned with round folds framed of small folded taffeta. Materials 2 rods in 48 inches."
HBC notes that the original French language ad copy uses two different tems for the outfits shown here, "vêtement" and "blouse". HBC does not notice any distinguishing features of these garments that would justify the use of different terms. They both look like tunic suits. In the case of the first term, "vêtement" which translates as just garment or clothing. A French reader who provided this information translates "blouse" as smock. HBC does not think that the outfit is a smock in the modern sence which translates as "tablier". This outfit does not appear to be a protective garment worn over a boys' clothes to protect them, but an actual outfit in their own right.
A French reader writes, "I agree with your comment, I just translated 'blouse' into smock (both blouse and tablier do
mean smock). In french we also have the word 'tunique' for tunic. On the other hand I checked the pictures bank under reference 'tablier', there were only some pictures of girls with smock, not for boy. So the French style of school smocks was apparently not imported to Quebec.
Apart from above considerations, it can be reminded also that there are many differences between the French language in France and Quebec (not to speak of the delicious canadien accent) these differences being not only in an other meaning of a given word, but also the numerous old
French words lost in France and jaleously kept in Quebec."
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