Figure 1.--This advertisement appeared in a March 1936 La Samaritaine catalog. It pictured a fancy boy's short set in with dresses for girls.
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Figure 1.--This advertisement appeared in a March 1936 La Samaritaine catalog. It pictured a fancy boy's short set in with dresses for girls. |
This La Samaritaine department store ad in March 1936 offered a shorts set which for some reason it pictured with girls' outfits. It was a fancy outfit complete with hat. The shorts set was in the button-on style.
La Samaritaine is either the earliest or at least one of the earliest department stores ever built. Situated in the historic center of Paris, between the Louvre and Châtelet and opposite the Ile de la Cité, the famous department store got its name from an old water pump near the Pont Neuf. The water pumps were very important to people in the 19th century. This pump for example fed the Louvre. It was something of a landmark because it was decorated with the woman of Sameria giving a drink of water to Jesus. The store now occupies four buildings. The café on the roof of store number two offers a 360 degree view of Paris. La Samaritaine has always been something of a poor relation in the department store stakes, but since it has been acquired by the LVMH group (owners of Le Bon Marché) this is probably due to change. You can find just about anything in the chaotic four-store complex, from fashion to household goods, a large linen department and a big toy department. Building two has a faded charm with wonderful art nouveau details, a superb Seine location and a great view from the rooftop terrace. The view is also excellent from the fifth-floor restaurant Le Toupary.
A variety of garments for boys through age 3, including a boys romper (barboteuse), shorts set, and child's coat are shown in this 1936 ad. The shorts set was in the button-on style. The rompers were the kind without the puffed pants. The child's coat was suitable for boys or girls.
These two garments were dresses (robes) for little girls 1-3 years of age.
This shorts set with velvet pants was a rather expensive garment. The ad copy reads, "Costume, culotte velours noir ou marron, blouse crépe de Chine soie naturelle blanche. 1 à 3 ans. Fr 41." This would translate as, "Suit (shorts set) with black or maroon velvet short pants. [? crépe de Chine soie] blouse in natural white. 1 to 3 years Fr 41." The blouse had a large scalloped collar with matching short sleeve cuff trim. The shorts are button-on garments.
This outfit was a matching dress and copat ensemmble for a little girl 1-3 year of age.
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