Figure 1.--Sears in its Spring and Summer Catalog, 1929, p. 103 offered children's underwear and waists. There were several types of waists. The waists were made in sizes up to size 12, but most were for younger children. Most of these waists were worn by both boys and girls. They served the purpose of holding up outer clothing such as short pants, skirts, and underpants and provided the means of attaching hose supporters to hold up long stockings..

Sears in its Spring and Summer Catalog, 1929, p. 103 offered children's underwear and waists. There were several types of waists. The waists were made in sizes up to size 12, but most were for younger children. Most of these waists were worn by both boys and girls. They served the purpose of holding up outer clothing such as short pants, skirts, and underpants and provided the means of attaching hose supporters to hold up long stockings.

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. In 1895 Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) 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 became the 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.

Children's Waists

Most of these waists were worn by both boys and girls. They served the purpose of holding up outer clothing such as short pants, skirts, and underpants and provided the means of attaching hose supporters to hold up long stockings. The waist with lace trim was apparently worn mostly by girls, while the "skeleton waist" with its more athletic construction and more open space on the upper body seems to have been mainly designed for boys. But, theoretically at least, all of the models could be worn by either gender. The majority of these waists were for younger children, but two of the styles were made in sizes to fit children as old as 10 and 12. Boys and girls who wore long stockings at ten years old or older, however, tended to wear garter waists with over-the-shoulder straps such as Dr. Parker's garter waist (sold by Eaton's and Montgomery Ward) or its equivalent, Kern's Daisy garter waist (sold by Sears Roebuck). Of course waist suits--union suits made with reinforcing straps with additional buttons for outer clothing and tabs for hose supporters--might substitute for regular underwaists by doing double duty as both waists and underwear combined.

Waist Types

Sears offered several different syles of waists.

Cambric underwaist--3882303

The ad copy read, "3882303 Post paid 29 c. White. Ages, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years. State age size. Cambric Underwaist. Double thickness of cloth over shoulders and under arms for sturdy wear. Taped buttons. Garter tabs. Opens down back. A big leader."

Cambric underwaist--38R2305

The ad copy read, " 38R2305 Post paid 37 c. White. Security Waist. Ages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years. State age size. Better Quality Cambric Underwaist with Security triple stitching so taped bone buttons will not pull off easily. Adjustable shoulder straps. Eyeleted garter tabs."

Skeleton underwaist--38R2314

The ad copy read, " 38R2314 Post paid 37 c. White. Ages 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 years. State age size. We pay postage. Skeleton Underwaist of sturdy quality jean cloth. Front strap for expansion. Extra taped bone buttons for pants or drawers. Metal garter tubes." This is the style made for the oldest children. It is the waist referred to by obe of our HBC readers, Charles's personal experience page. Chares wor this waist as a younger boy.

Cool underwaist--38R2312

The ad copyread, "38R2312 Post paid 29 c. White. Ages 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years. State age size. We pay postage. Cool Underwaist. Better quality crossbar nainsook. Cut low. Reinforced. Double attached bone buttons. Garter tabs. Opens down front."

Cambric underwaist--38R2308

38R2308 Post paid 29 c. White. Ages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years State age size. Lace trim at the neck adds a pretty touch to this practical cambric underwaist which buttons at both sides. Metal eyelet garter tabs and double row of taped bone buttons. [HBC note: This waist is clearly designed mainly for girls because of the lace trim.]

Cambric underwiast--38R2310

Thge ad copy read, "38R2310 Post paid 24 c. White. Ages 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 years. State age size. Cambric Underwiast for children. Double stitched taped buttons. Reinforced at waist line. Eyeleted tabs for garters." Charles

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Created: November 26, 2003
Last updated: November 26, 2003