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French catalogs and clothing advertisments with rompers--1939 barboteuse
French Mail Order Catalogs with Boys Clothings: Romper Pattern (1939-40)
Figure 1.--This is a French sewing pattern packet illustration dated 1939-40. We do not fully understand the written instructions. The illustration clearly shows a boy wearing a romper suit with puffed sleeves and Perter Pan collar, and the illustration suggests a school-age boy. This is a litle surprising because except for pre-school, French boys did not generally wear rompers to school. What was common at the time was smocks. We believe that the scene here is meant to be mom helping the boy with his writing at home, preparing him for when he begins school.
Rompers called barboteuses by the French were a popular garmdent for younger boys. They were only worn by boys. Girls wore dresses. Here we have the cover from waht we take take to be be a pattern envelope dated 1939-40. We are not sure about the name of the company. We think it may be MP. Nor are we sure about what the pattern was for, the dress or romper suit -- perhaps both. Note that thec top of trhe dress and the romper suit are identical. The caption reads,"Voir a l'interieur Les explicationes et les dosde ces modéles, Pendant 8 jours. Le patron de la barboteuse peur étre envoye en PATRON-PRIME contre deux timbres a 1 franc plus le bon remboursable." That means something like,"See inside the explanations and the backs of these models, During 8 days. The pattern of the romper can be sent as PATRON-BONUS against two stamps at 1 franc plus the refundable voucher." We do not fully understand that. Perhaps a French reader will be able to explsain. But the illustration clearly shows a boy wearing a romper suit with puffed sleeves and Perter Pan collar, and the illustration suggests a school-age boy. This is a litle surprising because except for pre-school, French boys did not generally wear rompers to school. This is claerly shown in the photographic record. What was common at the time was smocks. We do see some school-age boys wearing rompers, but mostly at home. Notice that the very fashionably dressed mother is helping the boy with his writing. We suspect that this was meant to indicate that she was preparing him to begin school at home, meaning he was about 5-6 years old. French boys as in America began school as age 6 years, but some boys turned 6 after the school year began.
