Figure 1.-- Boys still commonly wore suits in 1920. Norfolk styling was still popular. Most boys wore knicker suits. Florida was all the rage in the 1920s. Note the Palm Beach knicker suits here are above the knee knicker suits worn with kneesocks. This was the first advertisement we hvenoted with this and I think is meant to emphasize that the suits were suitable for warm weather wear.

Boys still commonly wore suits. Norfolk styling was still popular. Most boys wore knicker suits, but kneepants suits were also available. Older teenagers might wear long pants suits. We note suits made in heavy and light weight material for seasonal wear. The Wearpledge Palm Beach suits here were for summerwear.

Ladies Home Journal

We believe this ad appeared in a 1920 issue of The Wall Street Journal. As the oldest still publishing, most respected women's service magazine in the country, The Journal has always focused on issues of crucial importance to millions of women. Since its first issue in December 1883. This long history make The Journal and invaluable source of information on American fashion trends. Its covered an incredibly wide range of topics beyond just fashion, from the latest medical research and consumer news to parenting know-how, workplace survival, good skincare, nutrition facts and much, much more. It was The Journal who sucessfully merged the elements and produced the right formula, becoming the top ladies magazine in America. The Journal both empowered women and applauded their growing power. We also notice patterns offered in the magazine.

Bauman Clothing

We do not know much about this American manufactrer of boys's clothing. We know they were operating in 1919 and located in New York. Their brand name was Wearpledge which they marketed a insured clothes for boys--a novel marketing approach given how boys wear clothes. The company guaranted garments over their "reasonable life". Bauman offered to actually replace garments. Bauman offered a range of garments for boys 1 1/2 to 18 years of age.

Wearing Suits

Boys in the early 20th century wore suits much more commonly than is the case today. Note the boys here going after a pig in suits (figure 1). Mote the add claims, "A boy doesn't want to go around in his shirt sleeves, and he doesn't want to be half roasted either." We are guessing that this is another example of advertisers making a statement that is simply not true. We believe that a lot of boys at the time probably did want to go about in just ther shirt sleeves. But it is certainly true that boys did commonly wear suits. Many boys at the time wore suits to scool, although we doubt that they wore them to catch pigs. One apect of wearing suits is that they were owrn n warm summer weather. Thus we see suits mde in light-weight materilal like the Palm Beach suits here.

Above the Knee Knickers

Most boys in 1920 wore knickers and knicker suits. Knickers at the time were commonly made to be buckled above the knee, although many boys buckled them below the knee. Note the Palm Beach knicker suits here are above the knee knicker suits worn with kneesocks. This was the first advertisement that we have noted with this and I think it is mean to emphasize that the suits were suitable for warm weather wear. Of course kneesocks were just beginning to become popular in 1920. So the ad may reflect a desire to be stylish. I think, however, the style is meant to depict a warm weather style. We wonder, however, how much cooler it would be to just have your knees uncovered.

Created: 2:47 PM 5/12/2006
Last updated: 2:47 PM 5/12/2006