Figure 1.--This is one of the styles of shirt waists offered by Wards in 1895. They were made in sizes 4-13 years of age. We don't see buttons on the waistband, but assume they were there. I'm not sure about the conventions for this shirt blouse.Note the waist buttons. |
Ward's does not explain the difference between the blouse and shirt waists they offer. Based on the illustrations the difference appears to be that the shirt waists have buttons at the waistr rather than drawstrings like the blouse waists. The Ward's ad copy reads, "Boys' Shirt Waists. Weight of cotton waists, 4 to 5 ounces; blue flannel waists, 6 to 8 ounces. Sizes 4 to 13 years."
Ward's does not explain the difference between the blouse and shirt waists they offer. Based on the illustrations the difference appears to be that the shirt waists have buttons at the waistr rather than drawstrings like the blouse waists. These buttons were used to hold up the boys' kneepants.
We had thought that the blouse waits were for younger children than the shirt waists. Heree with the Ward's waists the age sizes for thre blouse and shirt waists were identical at 4-13 years. There were now age difference in the approprisateness of these two garments.
Ward's offered several different styles of shirt waists. Several were made in the same style, but different materials. The Ward's ad copy reads, "Boys' Shirt Waists. Weight of cotton waists, 4 to 5 ounces; blue flannel waists, 6 to 8 ounces. Sizes 4 to 13 years."
32410: Boys' Figured Calico Shirts Waists, plain front and back. Each $0.17. Per dozen, $1.85.
32412: Boys' Shirt Waists, 3 plaits down the front, assorted designs. Each $0.22. Per dozen, $2.38.
32413: Boys' Shirt Waists, Indigo blue, assorted white figures and designs, three plaits down front. Each $0.25, Per dozen, $2.70.
32414: Boys' Shirt Waists, 3 plaits down the front and 2 down the back, new designs in assorted colors. Each $0.30, Per dozen $3.25.
32415: Boys' Shirt Waists, medium colors, neat plaid cheviot, three plaits down front. Each $0.30, Per dozen, $3.30.
32417: Boys' Shirt Waists, medium stripe, domett flannel, three plaits down front. Each $0.30, Per dozen, $3.25.
32419: Boys' Shirt Waists, plaited front and back, crepe momie cloth, neat broken checks. Each $0.50; Per dozen, $5.40.
32421: Boys' Shirt Waists, extra fine and heavy penang cambric, 3 plaits down front and back. Each $0.50, Per dozen, $5.40.
Figure 2.--This is one of the styles of shirt waists offered by Wards in 1895. They were made in sizes 4-13 years of age. Note the waist buttons. This looks like it must have been a every-day waist. |
Note that Ward's offers these waists by the dozen. We wonder why parents would want a dozen, especially s dozen of the same syle. Granted families were larger, but purchasing a doizen waists seems somewhat surprising.
Figure 3.--This is one of the styles of shirt waists offered by Wards in 1895. They were made in sizes 4-13 years of age. Note the waist buttons. This of course was a dressy shirt waist. |
We note a range of styles, both every day styles as well as dressy Sunday or party styles. Other styles are not real clear to us as to how they were worn.
Ward's also offered blouse waists. These were similar to shirt waists, but had drawstrings to close the blouse over the waist of the kneepants. We note thsat there were a lot more styles of shirt waists offered thsan blouse waists. We suspect that this means that shirt waists were more popular than blouse cwaists.
We beleve that the shirt waists were tucked into the trousers. The buttons were fitted into the button holes in the waistline of the kneepants that they were worn with. This differed from the blouse waists which were not attached in any ways with the pants. Rsther they were bloused over the waisdt of the kneepants and pulled snug with a waistband that ran through the hem of the blouse.
A HBC reader writes, "Do you see any waist buttons on the 1895 shirt waists? They aren't visible to me. One model, perhaps, could have waist buttons, but I think in this case the buttons, if they are there at all, might just be decorative. In our later examples of button-on waists (compare the Sears 1930 page on shirt
waists), the waist buttons are clearly prominent and visible. Is this
difference worth pointing out?" HBC does not see buttons on figure 1, but I do on figures 2 and 3. They are located on the waistband. Figure 1 has a waistband, but I do not see buttons. I do not think
they are decorative. Located there at the waistline they would not have been vissible. Even if not depicted well, they must have been there. Otherise the blouses would not have been secured and I can't think of one HBC image showuing shirt waists not well secured or hanging over the waist of the kneepants."
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