Figure 1.--Au Bon Marche in 1940 offered these two boys' smocks dome in tartan-like material. There are differences in the collar and shoulder styling as well as the length.
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Figure 1.--Au Bon Marche in 1940 offered these two boys' smocks dome in tartan-like material. There are differences in the collar and shoulder styling as well as the length. |
Here are two styles of boys' smocks. Both are done in tartan-styled pattern. There are differences in the collsr and shoulder treatment. There is also a noticeable difference in length. I'm not sure how accurate the depiction is. The age range of the longer smock is slightly older than that for the shorter-length smock. Note than Au Bon Marche uses the term blouse for one of these smocks and tablier for the other. We are not sure why this was.
Here we have another boy's smock done in tartan gingham. The ad cooy read, "TABLIER Vichy écossais grand tient bleu ou rose.
0m45 16.50 Plus 1.50 par 0m05 jusqu'à 0m75. En bon Vichy écossais
0m45 10.75 Plus 1.25 par 0m05 jusqu'à 0m75." That translates as, "SMOCK Vichy plaid colorfast material bleu or pink: Length 0,45 meter ... 16.50 francs Added 1.50 franc by 5 cm more , untill 0,75 meter In good Vichy plaid material: 0,45 meter = 10.75 francs
added 1.25 franc by 5 cm more untill 0,75 meter."
This looks to be a boy's smock done in tartan. The ad copy uses the term "blouse". The garment is clearly a smock. We are not sure why the term "blouse" is used rather than a tablier. As far as I can tell it is a smock like the other smocks pictured here. The ad copy reads, "BLOUSE Vichy écossais grand tient, bleu ou rose, 0m55 ... 19.75 plus 1.75 jusqu'à 0m85." That translates as, "SMOCK Vichy plaid colorfast material, bleu or pink, length 0,55 meter. 19,75 francs added 1.75 franc by 5 cm untill 0,85 meter." That would be ages 6-? years. The sizing suggests that this was a school smock. As illustrated it is much longer than the other smocks. We are not sure if this is an accurate reflection of the garment length or just the vageries of the illustration process. The length seems longer than the smocks we have noted French boys actually wearing. We asked a French reader why this smock was called a blouse. She tells us, "TABLIER and BLOUSE have the same meaning in French. The word Tablier sounds more childish than blouse A blouse can mean a shirt-like garment, but it can also mean a smock. Tablier : is a school garment for girl , boys (under 10 years old) or women. It is commonly used for smocks with a juvenile look. Blouse : is a garment for boy (over 10 years old), women, and men. It nrmally had more mature syling. During 1940-50 The tablier could be worn by boys until 12 years of age. One could find description such smock in magazines. The 12 years model often had the buttoning at front or at the left side. This is why item 250 is cut longer tghan the ither smocks. To be smart a tablier should be cut well above the knee. A blouse with an older look was often cut at knee length. This was the convention for both boys and girls through the 1950s.
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