Figure 1.-- This is a good illustration of summer waist union suits popularly advertised during the 1920s. These are summer waist suits made of light weight nainsook material. We see the boys' model at the top and the girls' at the bottom--the only difference being bloomers for the girls and straight legs for the boys. Both models have waist buttons for attachment of trousers, knickers, skirts. And both have reinforcement straps over the shoulder to support the tape loops at the sides (the garter tabs for attachment of hose supporters for long stockings). In 1924 children of both genders often wore long stockings, even in the summer months. This advertisement appeared in the 'Ladies Home Journal' (July 1924).

This is a good illustration of summer waist union suits popularly advertised during the 1920s. These are summer waist suits made of light weight nainsook material. We see the boys' model at the top and the girls' at the bottom--the only difference being bloomers for the girls and straight legs for the boys. Both models have waist buttons for attachment of trousers, knickers, skirts. And both have reinforcement straps over the shoulder to support the tape loops at the sides (the garter tabs for attachment of hose supporters for long stockings). In 1924 children of both genders often wore long stockings, even in the summer months. This advertisement appeared in the Ladies Home Journal (July 1924).

EZ Mills

E-Z Mills placed this advertisement for waist suits in Parents' Magazine [October, 1930, p. 72.] Note that the girl's suit is sleeveless while the boy's suit has short sleeves. I believe, however, that both styles are for either boys or girls. These suits appear to have no reinforcement straps and are therefore, strictly speaking, untaped union suits rather than waist union suits. See the Hanes advertisement in the Parents' Magazine group, which gives options for both waist union suits with strap reinforcements and untaped union suits.

Ladies Home Journal

HBC has founnd advertisements in major magazines like The Ladies Home Journal and . These adverisements are easy to find as many libraries have collections of the magaazines. This ad appeared in the Ladies Home Journal (July 1924) on page 49. As the oldest still publishing, most respected women's service magazine in the country, The Ladies' Home 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 Ladies Home 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 Ladies Home Journal who sucessfully merged the elements and produced the right formula, becoming the top ladies magazine in America. The Ladies' Home Journal both empowered women and applauded their growing power. We also notice patterns offered in the magazine.

Waist Union Suits

In the early 1920s the waist union suit was developed and remained popular until the 1940s. This garment (for both boys and girls up until about the age of 13) combined the basic one-piece union suit, the standard form of children's underwear, with the underwaist (with reinforcement straps, waist buttons, and garter tabs) so that a single garment could do duty for two. Wearing one layer rather than two made getting dressed easier, and mothers saved money by not having to buy both a union suit and an underwaist or garter waist. These suits were sometimes referred to as "combination suits." Waist union suits came in both summer and winter styles. The summer style was usually made of nainsook and was like a junior version of adult BVDs. It had short legs and was usually sleeveless so as to be cool. Usually the girl's summer style was a bit different from the boy's summer style, the latter having front buttons from the neck to the crotch. The winter style was knitted like ordinary union suits and could be had with short sleeves and knee-length legs or with long sleeves and ankle-length legs. All these garments, whether winter or summer, or whether for boys or girls, were equipped with waist buttons for outer clothing and tabs for hose supporters. Waist union suits normally had all the features of an underwaist plus the usual features of a summer or winter union suit. These went out of style in the mid-1940s when long stockings ceased to be widely worn and when garter tabs on underwear were no longer necessary.

Ad Copy

Here is the ad transcribed, ""Mother says: For growing children, there lots of room in E-Z Waist Union Suits. Then, too, there's nothin like Nainsoof for comfort in hot weather. These cool, comfortable, loose-fitting E-Z Waist Union Suits are a delight to the children and they certainly save me lots of time and trouble. One garment, combining shirt, drawers and waist, to put on, take off and launder, instead of three, is a joy on hot days. E-Z Nainsook Suits are a help to mothers because the unbreakable, real bone buttons are taped on to stay, the reinforced bias bindings strengthen every seam, the garment supporting straps relieve all pull and tug of clothing [i.e., trousers, skirts, long stockings]. The non-metal garter holder and the individual sanitary packages are two other superior features. Made in athletic knee for boys and bloomer knee for girls. The EZ Waist Union Suit trade mark registered--the standard by which to measure all children's underwear. Sold in the children's underwear department of most good stores. Write for our Nainsook Booklet A. The E-Z Waist Co., 61 Worth St., New York. Packing: An attractive individual glassine envelope for each suit. Insures sanitary and spotless cleanliness."

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Created: 9:04 AM 9/16/2009
Last updated: 9:04 AM 9/16/2009