Figure 1.--"La Mode Illustree" in 1917 offered this smock for a 10-year old child, presumably meaning it was suitable for both boys and girls. The illustration was made in gingham. There were other styles especially for boys and girls. |
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French department store catalogs offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. French mail order catalogs show a variety of popular styles in French boys' clothing during the 1910s. Fashion magazines carried patterns for boys, girls, and childrens' smocks. Youngr boys commonly ore tunic outfits. Of course World War I dominated the decade. And as in other countries affected the fshions, in particular giving rise to more informality in clothing.
French deparment stores shoed wide brimmed hats. Some had turned up brims. Stores featured sailor suits and caps. Some sailor suits had fancy additions like ruffled collars. Boys' suits with bloomer styled knickers were also popular.
A 1913 issue of Mode Pratique showed some outfits for youngr boys along with a page of mostly girls' outfits. The younger boys' outfits were motly tunic outfits worn with bloomer knickers and socks. The tunic outfits were fancier than the ones we have seen boys commonly wearing.
La Mode Illustree issue # 36 in September 1917 carried patterns for boys, girls, and childrens' smocks. The boys smock was a solid collor back buttoning, belted smock with contrasting trim for an 8 year old. The girl's smock was sleeveless for a 6 year old. The child's (presumably for boys and girls) smock had a square collar and was shown in gingham for a 10 year old (figure 1). Before the War, smocks were mostlt black or to a lesser extent grey.
We have yet to find many French advertisements or catalogs for 1919. France was still recovering from the War. We are not sure just how the fashion industry fared in France immediately after the War. We do note an advertisment from what looks to be a fashionable clothing shop called Old England. We cdo not know just what kind of clothing they handeled, but a 1919 ad suggests they offered childrens anfd youth clothes for both boys and girl. The name suggests they offered English styles, but we are not entirely sure how literaly they took thus. Interestingly the advertisement offered American sailor suits (Marin Américain). They were offered in sizes 3-14 years, although the short pants only went through age 12 years. America had of course entered the War (1917) and helped to save France. Thus all things American were fashionable for a while. I can't see just how the styling was American, but the name was.
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