English Mail Order Catalogs and Newspaper Advertisements with Boys Clothings: Garments


Figure 1.--This is a Lewis Department Store advertisement for short pants suits, It is undated nd we are unsure just how to date it, but would guess the 1940s. Notice the school cap suggesting that the suits were suitable for school wear. Notice that the term "knicker" is used meaning short trousers.

English mail order catalogs offer a great deal of information on specific clothing styles worn over time. A variety of boys' garments are especially associated with England. Some of these garments include sailor suits, sweaters, various styles of suits, short pants, suits, knee socks, and school sandals. As many of the catalogs are dated, they provide useful information on importan fashion trends. We have begun to collect catalogs with various garments. Currently we are primarily archiving them in the chronological section, but as we expand our archive will eventually cross reference them in this garment section as well, but that is amajor undertaking.

Headwear


Todler Clothes


Shirts


Sweaters


Sailor Suits


Suits

The image here is a Lewis Department Store advertisement for short pants suits (figure 1). It is undated nd we are unsure just how to date it, but would guess the 1940s. Notice the school cap suggesting that the suits were suitable for school wear. The suits were made in sizes to 15 years. Notice that the term "knicker" is used meaning short trousers. We are not sure yet what Wilwer or Yorkshire Union meant.

Trousers


Hosiery


Footwear


Pajamas

We do not know a great deal about pajamas yet. We do have a Weldon page with nighwear which like most pattern booklet is undated, but as copyrighted 1940 during World War II. We are not entirely sure how the War affected the clothing indusry. This was fairly early in the War and before things began to go badly wrong, sepending on just when it was published in 1940. Weldon appers to be a pattern company. We note Wlson Fashion series that look like the 1920-50s to us, but do not know much about the company and have no company history yet. This page shows pajamas for boys 8-16 years of age. There are the standard striped pajamas as well as a fancy style with braided frogs. Notice that night shirts are no longer offered. Also ofered are bath robes called dressing gowns. And underwear for boys 7-10 years of age. .





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Created: February 7, 2004
Last updated: February 7, 2004