|
The French word for rompers is 'barboteuse'. We commonly think of them as one-piebce outfits for younger children with puff (baloon) pants. In France they were only for boys. Girls at the time wore little dresses. We note catalogs in 1937 using the term for all one-piece outfis for little boys. We see both puff pants and ordinary short pants used for these outfits. A good example is a 1937 Galleries Lafayette catalog page with mostly smocks. The barboteuses here were done in different styles, but all with short pants. We do not see any puff pants examples, herebut in 1937 both types were worn. Some were two-piece garments, but still called barboteuses. The use of the term'barboteuse' seems to have varied over time. What does not seem to have varied was that it was a boy's garment. Here the Galleries Lafayette
catlog ad copy provides some informtion on the outfits. As was common in France the outfits were offered in various ctual sizes rather than age equivalents. They were mostly for pre-school boys, but some were worn by younger orimary school boys. Notice that the blue and pink colors were popular and had no gender commotations.
This was a younger boy romper suit. The ad copy read, "Barboteuse en Vichy uni écru Sèvres du 40 au 50." That would translate as, "Gingham romper". We are not sure what "écru Sèvres" means. We think écru is a color, a kind of off white. We have no idea what Sèvres neans other that a neighborhood of Paris. We think the numbers mean centimeters. A French reader tells us, "The approximate age conversions would be: 40 cm (12/18 months perhaps 24 months), 45 cm (2 to 3 years), 50 cm (4 to 5 years)."
This romper is pictured folded, not with a model. The ad copy read, "En Vichy écossais, belle qualité, bleu ou rouge. Du 40 au 50. Les 2 barboteuses. 10.50." This would translate as, "In Scottish gingham, good quality, blue or red. From 40 to 50. Two rompers. Fr 10.50." We believe that the Scottish refers to a plaid pattern not the origin of the fabric. The price was for both H0515 rompers.
This was a girl's smock looking rathe like a dress. French boys also wore smocks,but not smocks styled like this one.The ad copy read, "Tablier en fileté imprimé fond bleu ou fond rose, talle 40. 10.90. et 1. en plus pr 0mo5 jusqu'å 0m65." This would translate as, "Embroidered smock print with blue or pink background, size 40cm Fr 10.90. 1 Fr more per 5 cm aditional sie up to 65cm." The 65 cm smock would be for a 8 year old girl.
This was a romper suit for both todlers and younger primary school boys. There is a sclloped collar and double-breasted atyling. The ad copy read,"Barboteuse 2 pièces en piqué fin belle qualité, blouse blanche culotte ciel ou rose. Taille. 40 13.50. et 1. en plus pr 0mo5 jusqu'å 0m65."
This would translate as, "Two piece romper suit done in fine quality pique, a cotton fabric decorated with a pattern performed using stitches. White blouse with sky (light blue) pr pink short pants. Size 40cm Fr13.50. 1 Fr more per 5 cm aditional size up to 65cm." The 65 cm smock would be for a 8 year old boy.
This was another romper suit for both todlers and younger primary school boys. It was done with aqure collar. The ad copy read,"Barboteuse 2 pièces en Vichy écossais bleu ou rouge. Taille. 45 10.90. et 1. en plus pr 0mo5 jusqu'å 0m65."
This would translate as, "Two piece romper suit done in fine quality pique, a cotton fabric decorated with a pattern performed using stitches. White blouse with sky (light blue) pr pink short pants. Size 40cm Fr13.50. 1 Fr more per 5 cm aditional size up to 65cm." The 60 cm smock would be for a 6-7 year old boy.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main French 1937 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]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits]
[Sailor hats]
[Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Pinafores]
[Underwear]
