Figure 1.--Lane Bryant offered a range of different suits in its Fall-Winter catalog. The outfits were for boys 3-8/10 years of age which means both todlers and primary-age boys. These would have been seen as suitable for back to school. The Lane Bryant catalog here was probably slightly more stylish than the outfits worn by the average boy. Both the sailor suits and the short pants would have been seen as stylish. Even in the Fall-Winter back to school catalog there are a lot of short pants outfits.

Lane Bryant offered a range of different suits in its Fall-Winter catalog. The outfits were for boys 3-8/10 years of age which means both todlers and primary-age boys. These would have been seen as suitable for back to school. The Lane Bryant catalog here was probably slightly more stylish than the outfits worn by the average boy. Both the sailor suits and the short pants would have been seen as stylish. Even in the Fall-Winter back to school catalog there are a lot of short pants outfits. Some boys did wear short pants to school, but long pants and knickers were probably more common in much of the country. Here there were regional differences. All of the outfits come with pants that button to blouses. Some of the shorts have self belts with buckles, but this is for style and hide the buttons underneath. Notice also that none of the clothes seem to have a fly. It is unclear from the illustration, but looks as if they do not. I think if they did the ad copy probably would have stated it. That means that even for outfits for children up to 10 years of age size mothers would be helping the children into and out of the clothes even when using the bathroom. Or at the least, there were more accidents than today. Also note that none of the outfits are pictured with long stockings. Even though the clothes are winter wear, most of the children are pictured wearing knee socks with fancy patterns and exposed knees.

Lane Bryant

Lane Bryant is a chain store focusing on fashion for larger size women. The store began with a focus on maternity clothes. The founder was Lena Himmelstein Bryant Malsin (1879?-1951), a immigrant from Lithuania. Lane Bryant is the accidental Americanized version of her name which was used for the chain of stores she founded. was an U.S. clothing designer and retailer who founded the maternity clothing chain Lane Bryant. She was born in Lithuania, but raised by her grandparents. She immigrated to America at age 16, the cheapest way possible--in steerage. It was planned that she marry a distant relative, but instead found a job in a swearshop like many immigrant girls at the time. She earned $1 a week at a sweat shop on Lispenard Street. She married a jeweler, David Bryant,about 1899. She worked with him in his modest Brooklyn store. Their first child Raphael was born soonafter (1900). Tragically her husband died 6 months after Raphael arrived. She was left with nothing. She was taken in by her sister Anna who had a small apartment on West 112th St. Rather than return to the sweat shops, she decided to use her talents to make high-end garments. She began making negligees and tea gowns using delicate laces and fine silks to well-to-do customers. From that simple beginning grew one of the major American retail clothing chains. The company deals with women's clothing, but the catalog has offered children's clothing.

Age

Lane Bryant offered a range of different suits in its Fall-Winter catalog. The outfits were for boys 3-8/10 years of age which means both todlers and primary-age boys. These would have been seen as suitable for back to school.

Styling

The Lane Bryant catalog here was probably slightly more stylish than the outfits worn by the average boy. Both the sailor suits and the short pants would have been seen as stylish. Even in the Fall-Winter back to school catalog there are a lot of short pants outfits. Some boys did wear short pants to school, but long pants and knickers were probably more common in much of the country. Here there were regional differences. All of the outfits come with pants that button to blouses. Some of the shorts have self belts with buckles, but this is for style and hide the buttons underneath. Notice also that none of the clothes seem to have a fly. It is unclear from the illustration, but looks as if they do not. I think if they did the ad copy probably would have stated it. That means that even for outfits for children up to 10 years of age size mothers would be helping the children into and out of the clothes even when using the bathroom. Or at the least, there were more accidents than today.

Hosiery

Also note that none of the outfits are pictured with long stockings. Even though the clothes are winter wear, most of the children are pictured wearing knee socks with fancy patterns and exposed knees.

Individual Outfits

Lane Bryant offered on formal sack suit and an Eton suit done as a sailor suit. The sack suit is done as a double-breasted suit. Suits for school were not as common in the 1930s as they had been in the 1920s. Another example of a gradual shift to more informal styles. This was a style I have not noted before. There are two other sailor suits, both short and long pants. This seems a more prominent presentation than we have noted in the actual photographic record. There are also short sets (shorts with coordinated shirts) and the suit can be worn as a shorts set as well. We also note sweater sets with include the shirts as well and thus can can be worn as shorts sets. The sweaters are pullovers and a shoilder fastening style. All these outfits are resented as suitable for schoolwear. Some mothers sent boys to school in short pants in the 1930s, but others chose knickers or even long oants, especially when the weather got cold. Here mothers were offered a wide selection of styles, but mostly short pants outfits.

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Created: 2:21 AM 11/11/2005
Last updated: 2:21 AM 11/11/2005