Figure 1.--This illustration from a Dutch magazine, Katholieke Illustratie, in 1935 showed some casual styles for boys. Mothers could buy the sewing patterns. Besides the main garments they also show other garments such as the shoes and socks boys were wearing in 1935. Note the props stressing casual wear. |
The drawing provided here is not an advertisement for readmade clothes, but an illustration from an important Dutch news magazine, Katholieke Illustratie as a page out of a fashion-album called "Zomerpracht" ("Beauty of Summer"). Patterns for the shirts and pants illustrated could be ordered, but even the illustration of the shoes and socks offer some fashion insights.
The accompaning Dutch text is not available.
The boys in the illustration look to be 10-12 years old. We are not sure, however, what sizes in which the aptterns were available.
The article cocussed on the boys and shirts and pants and te sewing patterns were available for these garments. The shoes and socks illustrated, however, also provide some information.
Interestingly there are no caps or hats illustrated.
The illustration shows two casual, non traditional shirts.
Rugby style The boy at top wears a sport looking rugby-type pullover shirt. Presumably there were no shirt tales, but he wears it tucked into his rather modern-looking sweatpants. Despite te casual Spring look, the shirt has long sleeves--presumably it can be quite chilly in the Netherlands during the Spring. Note the paddle, presumably the outfit was for canoeing--although the boy looks a bit young for it.
Jacket-type: Interestingly some had the look of an Eisenhower jacket that the American general made so popular during World War II in the 1940s.
Two types of casual pants are shown here, both casual or playwear.
Sweatpants: One boy wears a rather modern looking pair of sweatpants. He has is shirt tucked in though which a modern boy would probably not do. This is one of the first images that HBC has noted of boys wearing sweatpants. Note that he does not wear a sweat shirt.
Short pants: The short pants show here do not have any notable detailing. They are mid-length suggesting that the long lengths still seen in the 1920s was becoming less stylish. They look like they could be worn for both play as well as more dressy occassions.
The boy in short pants wears white kneesocks. This shows that white kneesocks were seen as suitable for playwear. Other images show boys wearing white kneesocks with dressy outfits.
Boys wore both low-cut oxfords and sandals. The boy in sweatpants appears to be wearing strap shoes or sandals which do not seem to go with his sweatpants. The boy in shorts seems to be wearing soke kind of saddle or two-tone shoe.
Both boys are pictured with short hair cuts with characteristic unkempt boyish looks like cowlicks.
Note the props that stress that the styles pictured here are for casialmwear. I'm not sure, however, how approprriate the clothes are. Sweatpanrs do not seem quite right for canoing nor do strap shoes. I rather suspect that the artist was not a canoeist. (Incidentally a kyack in England is called a canoe--I'm not sure about the Netherlands.) The other boy appears to have a length of string. I'm not sure what he plans to do with it--perhaps have a concor fight. That would be my guess in England, I do not know, however, if Dutch boys also had concor fights.
A Dutch reader reports, "I've been trying to find an answer to your questions, but I couldn't find much information. I'll keep trying
to find a website on kayaking and canoeing in Holland and perhaps forward some of your questions. So far I can only say that: I have seen photos of relatives and their friends wearing sweat pants at approximately that time. Most were in their early 20s, I think, some may have been over 30. I have no idea if they were common with other families."
Another comment, "I don't think that most of these pictures were meant to be accurate in details other than those of the garment they intended to sell. Both the paddle and the string may just be what you
suggested : props stressing casual wear. It would be interesting to read the text that probably accompanied these pitures." [HBC note: Yes we find the ad copy with these advertisements often have interesting information. Unfortunately we do not have the text. We will certainly post such information when available.]
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