Figure 1.--Eton's catalogs offering long stockings with a full page advertisement in 1922. The Spring and Summer catalog of 1922 (p. 131) shows stockings for boys and girls. Although knee socks were sometimes worn, boys and girls were still wearing mainly long stockings in 1922 since boys continued to wear either knee pants or knickers, often buckled above the knee. Formal or ordinary non-casual dress still required long stockings, especially for older boys. |
Eton's catalogs offering long stockings with a full page advertisement in 1922. The Spring and Summer catalog of 1922 (p. 131) shows stockings for boys and girls. Although knee socks were sometimes worn, boys and girls were still wearing mainly long stockings in 1922 since boys continued to wear either knee pants or
knickers, often buckled above the knee. Formal or ordinary non-casual dress still required long stockings, especially for older boys. This advertisement features only black long stockings.
T. Eaton's was a well known Toranto department store. Their catalogs provide a good indication of the styles popular in Canada at the time. This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store
chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton
empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
Eton's catalogs offering long stockings with a full page advertisement in 1922. The Spring and Summer catalog of 1922 (p. 131) shows stockings for boys and girls. Although knee socks were sometimes worn, boys and girls were still wearing mainly long stockings in 1922 since boys continued to wear either knee pants or
knickers, often buckled above the knee. Formal or ordinary non-casual dress still required long stockings, especially for older boys. This advertisement features only black long stockings. No other colors are offered. Note also that even though the advertisement appears in a Spring and Summer catalog, the boy in the illustration is shown wearing his stockings over a union suit with long sleeves and long legs.
Note the sizing chart in the middle of the ad: "How to Order Hosiery: In the following table, we give the size of shoe,
with the corresponding size of hose required to fit the shoe. In
ordering, please state size of stocking." There are two ranges of shoe sizes--Infants from 0 to 8 1/2 (hose sizes from 4 to 6 1/2); Children from 9 to 12 1/2 or from 1 to 7 (hose sizes from 7 to 10).
Eatons offered tfour types of childrens long stockings in its 1922 Spring-Summer catalog.
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Children's 1/1 Ribbed Fleeced Cotton
Color Black only. Sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10
20-733 A comfortable neat-appearing Canadian-made Stocking knitted from strong cotton yarns with the side brushed fleecing and reinforced heels and toes."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Children's Ribbed Cotton Color Black only. Sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10.
3 Pairs for 85 c. 20-732 A medium-weight 1/1 ribbed cotton Hose; with plain knit seamless feet and reinforced heels and toes. Per pair 29 c.; 3 pairs 85 c."
The Eaton ad copy read, "Moderately Priced Socks and Stockings for Children 3 Pairs for $1.00. Boys' Heavy 2/1 Ribbed cotton. Color Black only. Sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10.
20-725 Knitted from heavy 2-ply selected cotton yarns with stretchy 2/1 ribbed legs and plain knit seamless feet. A splendid Canadian-made Stocking that we can highly recommend for durability and good appearance. Per pair 35 c.; 3 pairs $1.00."
The Eaton's ad copy read, "Boy's Heavy 2/1 Ribbed Cotton. 3 Pairs for $1.00. Color Black only. Sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10. 20-725. Knitted from heavy 2-play selected cotton yarns with stretchy 2/1 ribbed legs and plain knitted seamless
feet. A splendid Canadian-made stocking that we can highly recommend for durability and good appearance. Per pair 35 c. 3 Pairs $1.00." Note the size scale in the middle of the advertisement, keying the sizes of stockings to the sizes of children's and infant's shoes.
The Eaton ad copy read, "Girls' Heavy 1/1 Ribbed Cotton. Color Black only. 3 Pairs for $1.00. Sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10. 20-724 Canadian made heavy cotton Hose, knitted from selected long fibre cotton yarns with the popular elastic-fitting 1/1 ribbed legs and plain knit comfortable seamless feet. Will give real good service and are of good appearance. Per pair 35 c.; 3 pairs $1.00."
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