Figure 1.--I don't think HBC has any ads for boys' knitted suits, although we have referred to the style in various contexts. Knitted suits were popular in France and Germany for smaller boys during the 1920s and 1930s, but I'm not sure how widely they were worn in the United States. They are pretty obviously a winter or autumn item, less formal than sailor suits but more formal perhaps than separate knee pants and sweaters. Here is a Sears knitted suit for boys from 2 to 6 years (Fall and Winter, 1921, page 181).

I don't think HBC has any ads for boys' knitted suits, although we have referred to the style in various contexts. Knitted suits were popular in France and Germany for smaller boys during the 1920s and 1930s, but I'm not sure how widely they were worn in the United States. They are pretty obviously a winter or autumn item, less formal than sailor suits but more formal perhaps than separate knee pants and sweaters. Here is a Sears knitted suit for boys from 2 to 6 years (Fall and Winter, 1921, page 181). The suit consists of a striped sweater top which fastens at the shoulder with snap fasteners (easier than buttons for small fingers to manipulate) and knitted "bloomers", close fitting the leg, with elastic waist and elastic closure above the knees. Elastic around the knees make these bloomer pants somewhat like above-the-knee knickers but much more form-fitting and without blousing. The bloomers are like knee trousers or rather trimly cut short trousers that end three or four inches above the knee but hug the thigh because there is elastic in the bottom seam.

Sears

The Sears, Roebuck and Co., huge merchandising firm centered in Chicago was founded by Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) and A.C. Roebuck (1864-1948). Sears had begun a career in mail-order business in Minnesota 1886. In Chicago he and Roebuck joined resources and formed a corporation in 1893 as a mail-order business under title Sears, Roebuck and Company. Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) in 1895 bought Roebuck's interest in firm and became president on Sears's retirement 1908. A retail-store system was added 1925. The first foreign store added in Havana, Cuba during 1945 and becane te first expropriated store in 1960. The Sears-Roebuck brought the production of industry to the fartherest corner of rural America, opening the cornucopia of the consumer age to rural America. All the new things that were changing American life danced across their pages. Through it, a huge Chicago warehouse offers to modernize the farms and small towns of the Midwest.

Knits Suits

I don't think HBC has any ads for boys' knitted suits, although we have referred to the style in various contexts. Knitted suits were popular in France and Germany for smaller boys during the 1920s and 1930s, but I'm not sure how widely they were worn in the United States.

Seasonality

They are pretty obviously a winter or autumn item. Obviously the suit is intended to be worn with black long stockings (or at least long stockings of some darker shade). The elastic closure above the knees is partly for warmth, I believe, and has the further advantage of not exposing underwear and garters to hold up long stockings.

Conventions

Knit suits were less formal than sailor suits but more formal perhaps than separate knee pants and sweaters.

Construction

Here is a Sears knitted suit for boys from 2 to 6 years (Fall and Winter, 1921, page 181). The suit consists of a striped sweater top which fastens at the shoulder with snap fasteners (easier than buttons for small fingers to manipulate) and knitted "bloomers", close fitting the leg, with elastic waist and elastic closure above the knees. Elastic around the knees make these bloomer pants somewhat like above-the-knee knickers but much more form-fitting and without blousing. The bloomers are like knee trousers or rather trimly cut short trousers that end three or four inches above the knee but hug the thigh because there is elastic in the bottom seam.

Age

These suits are only for younger boys up to and including first grade (age 6).

Shoes and Hosiery

The European boys wearing knit suits normsly socks of different lengths, often worn with sandals. The illustration here shows the American boy wearing hightop lace-up black shoes with black long stockings.

Color

The matching Sears sweater top and bloomer pants come in two colors, navy or maroon, with contrasting colors on the stripes.

Ad Copy

Here is the ad copy text, " 29F9146 -- Navy blue, gold stripes. 29F9147 -- Maroon, white stripes. Ages, 2 to 6 years. State age. Each suit, $3.29. Little Youngsters' All-Wool Two-Piece Jersey Knit Suit. Striped sweater with double fabric cuffs. Close fitting collar of double thickness. Fastens at shoulder with snap fasteners. Full size bloomers with elastic at waist and knees. A very desirable suit for Fall and Winter wear. Average shipping weight, 15 ounces."

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main U.S. 1921 catalog page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Cloth and textiles] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Topics]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 9:21 PM 2/19/2010
Last updated: 9:21 PM 2/19/2010