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English mail order catalogs offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. English mail order catalogs and newspaper ads provide great detail on fashion trends. A British mail order catalog, Freemans, show a wide range of boys clothes in 1974. We have little information about the company at this time. We notice both flared long pants and short cut continental-style short pants. The long knee-lngth hort pants are no longer offered for sale in Bitain, only the continental-style shorts. The long pants are described as flared long pants, check trousers, and Oxford bags. There were sets for younger boys with matching or coordinated shirts and pants.
We do not yet have any informatio o caps.
Collared shirts re done with rather large collarsdone in different styles.
Freemans offered a casual check shirt with a rounded collar (item A) and a speciall occasion shirt with a detachable nylon race frill (item C). The shirts were done in sizes 4, 6, and 8.
Freemans offered a white shirt with a trendy collar (item H). It was done in polyester and cotton in sizes 40, 45, and 50 in (boy's height). It was a Ladybird shirt which appears to be a storebrand.
Freemans offered three styles of long-sleeve coloared shirts for younger boys in both solid colors and prints. They are notable for the large collars, a popular 1970s style. They were done in sizes 4-8.
There were sets for younger boys with matching or coordinated shirts and pants. The sets were with both short and long pants. This was a common convention for younger boys. We note that they are sometimes referred to as suits, meaning that the material and color of the pants and shirt are the same. Boys in the 1970s might wear these sets for occassions in which suits were once worn.
Freemans offered two sets for younger boys age 4-7/8 years. One was a shorts set done with continental styling. The other was a long pants denim style looking rather American.
We notice bow ties and already tied ties for younger boys.
Freemans offered Ladybird "tidy ties" (item K) that were already tied and only needed to be clipped on. They were also a Ladybird brand item. They were done in blue, brown, and maroon.
Sweaters are a perenial favorite among British boys. We note both "V" necks which were worn for school as well as crewnecks, turtlenecks, and cardigans.
Freemans offered a "chunky twotone cardigan in heavy rib (item B). They were done sizes 4, 6, and 8.
Freemans offered a hort-sleeved white jumper with blue trim (item L). The material was Dicel and polyester. It was available in sizes 4, 6, and 8. (Additional jumers were offered on other pages.
We notice range of cold weater coats for boys.
We only note long pants suits in the 1970s.
We notice both flared long pants and short cut continental-style short pants. The short pants, except for school shorts, or only for boys up to 7-8 years of age. We only have the Fall-Winter catalog. Apparently short pants were seen as acceptable for winter wear for younger boys. Presumably the Spring and Summer catalog carried casual/play shorts for boys over 8 years old.
Freemans offered long pants in several styles, flared long pants, check trousers, and Oxford bags in sizes 4-8. The flare leg trousers had button trim and stitching detail. The check trousers were worn with aide belt. The Oxford bags were done in moss crepe weave.
Freemans offered grey shorts (item J) with an elasticised waist in sizes 2-8. The material was Bri-nylon. They were vlued priced at 95p.
Freemans offered continental-style short pants in two different styles. The first was done with a mock belt (item M) in polyester in navy (blue). The sizes were 2-8. The other had stitched front creases and elasticized back (item N). The material was acrylic and wool. They were done brown checks in sizes 2, 4, 6, and 8.
There were also coordinated short and long pants with fashionable details and belts done in sizes 2/4-8. No alternative colors were offerred. The shorts had continental styling and and the long pants were flares.
Boys underwear included singlets and T-shirts and Y-front pants. (In Britain pants referred specifically to underpants nd was not used for trousers as in America. Colord underwear in bright colors including orange and red were popular with boys.
We note both ankle and kneesocks being offered. The kneesocks were increasingly for younger boys and exceot for school often not done with turn-over tops. Even for dressy outfits the boys like the boys in the Freemans catalog did not always wear kneesocks.
A British reader tells us, "This page brings back memories when I was a lad in the 1970s. I was 6-12 and my mum always bought my shorts and grey knee socks from Freemans catalogues. As to why mum chose to buy my shorts and socks from catalogues, I think they were cheaper than in the stores. My mum was able to get my blazer and sweater from my frends. Her frends had boys older than I was. There was other catalogues at the time: Kays, Littlewoods as well as stores over here like Woolworths and Ethel Austin. They always had adverts and sections in their catalgues with back to school fashions."
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