|
Galeries Lafayette offered a range of different outfits for infants and toddlers. The section was labeled, "Pour les tout Petits"--For your little ones. We see boys' items done in pink. Modern color conventions were not yet prevalent and were commonly used for younger children.
While boys could wear pink garments, the rest of the items couldn't be pink such their carriage, blanket, bed, ect. Mothers were proud to match their baby/todler garments with the blanket and pillow. One could even seen the child's initials on their accessories.
The Louvre of department stores carries over 75,000 brand names, and welcomes (in the loosest sense) the equivalent of the entire population of Paris each month. Concessions run from Yohji Yamamoto to Gap. The menswear department has recently been given a make over and is now one of the largest in Europe. Also look for enormous departments dedicated to lingerie (an entire floor), beauty products, kitchenwares, books, records, home furnishings and even souvenirs. The two sixth floor restaurants offer panoramic views; Café Sushi is in adjoining Lafayette Maison. For many years Galerie Lafayette published a mail order catalog targetting te general public, including both urban and rural consumers. France in the 1930s still had a very subsantial rural population. There was no televison and the national media did not reach the rural population as it does today and rural people often did not get into cities very commonly. Thus rural children and adults did not dress as fashionably as urban families. Many rural families in France used the Galeries Lafayette catalog much like rural Americans used the Sears and Wards catalogs.
We see boys' items done in pink. Modern color conventions were not yet prevalent and were commonly used for younger children.
While boys could wear pink garments, the rest of the items couldn't be pink such their carriage, blanket, bed, ect. Mothers were proud to match their baby/todler garments with the blanket and pillow. One could even seen the child's initials on their accessories.
All the suits were done in the "baby" style. The word "baby" hs entered the French language, but with a somewhat different meaning. The style baby meant garments for toddlers with short pants, baloon sleeves,
little round colars (Peter Pan collars). They were ofen decorated with smocking and embroidery. They were done in one-piece and button-on pants without a fly.
Galeries Lafayette offered a range of different outfits for infants and toddlers. We note rompers, short pants outfits, dresses, and coats. There were coordinated outfits for boy and hirl siblings close in age. The section was labeled, "Pour les tout Petits"--For your little ones. Only one of the biy outfits is illustrated with a coordinated dress, but all three had coordinated dresses.
Notice the first item--a puffed one piece romper (barboteuse) suit. The romper suit with bloomer pants were just beginning to become fashionable for boys. They were strictly a boy's garment, never for girls who wore dresses. A French reader writes, "That's all to the good for us boys of the 1950s! Each hhad their own garment, dresses for the girls and rompers for us boys." Later these rompers will be much more puffed with a big bow at the back and made even for boys up to age 7 years. Here only the romper is illustrated, but here was also a coordinated dress for little girls. The Galeries Lafayette ad coy read, "164-960. -- Barboteuse tissu lavable fond blanc, impressiones fantaisie. 1 an å 3 ans 25 Fr. 164-7967. La robe assortie. 0m.45 au 0m.55. 29 Fr." This would translate as "ROMPER - Washable-fabric white backcolor , fancy printed fabric. 1 year trough 3 years old, 25 francs. 164-7967. The matched dress, 45-55 centimeters 29 francs." Presumably that size was for girls 1-3 years of age.
Here are coordinated outfits for boys and girls. They of course could be purchased separately if mother only had a boy or girl, but they could be purchased toether if mother wanted to coordinate the outfits of a son and daughter. The top of the garments were styled similarly. Actually with similar defined waistline dresses, the tops were virtually identical. The dress here does not have a defined waistline so there is some differences. But still there were common stylistic features. The Galeries Lafayette ad copy for the girl read, "164-7959. -- Robe Baby popeline cuel ou rose, garniture , 0m.42 au 0m.55. 49 Fr." That translates as croquet, " Baby dresse Popeline sky blue or pink. Braid trim. 42-55 cm. 49 francs."
The ad copy for the girl's bonnet read, "164-5275. -- Bonnichon gros-grain blanc, ciel, rose ou marron. 29 Fr." That translates as, "Bonnet , big grain white, sky blue, pink, brown. 29 francs. The ad copy for the boy's costume read, "164-958. -- Costume très belle popeline lavable, ciel ou rose, garni croquet 0m.42 au 0m.55. 49 Fr." This translates as, "Suit very good washable popeline, sky blue-sky or pink, brid trim. ming braided. 42-55 cm. 49 francs."
This outfit was a button-on smocked blouse and matching short pants. The blouse had a Peter Pan white collar, baloon sleeves and front smocking. There was also a coorinated dress, but it was not illustrated. The Galeries Lafayette ad copy read, "164-959 -- Costume flanelle lavable, ciel ou rose, orné nid d'abeilles. 0m.42 au 0m.55. 79Fr." This translates as, "SUIT washable flannel , blue-sky or pink, smocked . 42-55 cmm 79 francs." The ad copy for the coordinated dress read, "164-7966. -- La robe assortie. 0m.42 au 0m.50. 49 Fr." This translates as, "The matched dress. 42-50 cm. 49 francs."
Tere aretwo dress offered. They are done in sizes 45-55 cm. I'm not sure about the age conversion for these sizes. Each has a little bonnet.
There are two coats (manteau) offered. The illustrtions how girls weaing them. I am not sure, however, that they were just for girls. The ad copy offers no clue concerning gender. Both are picture with hats (chapeau). One is clearly for girls--chapeal feutrine. I'm less sure about the chapeau pamama. The coat are done in various colors (ciel, rose, or citron/blue, pink, or yellow). There is no indication as to size.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main French 1937 baby-toddler catalog page]
[Return to the Main French 1930s catalog page]
[Return to the Main store page]
[Fashion magazines and store page]
[Main photo/publishing page]
[Fashion magazines]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor hats]
[Sailor suits]
[Blouses]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Short pants]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Pinafores]
[Underwear]
[Sleepwear]
