American Advertisements and Catalogs with Boys Clothings: 1961


Figure 1.--This advertisement for a boy's Eton suit and al's Prettfore dress appeared in an unidentified magazune during 1961. Notice the white ankle socks. These look like Spring, possibly easter fashions. The ad was labeled 'Merry Mites and Gay Sprites'. These were the manufacturwr producing the garments. The ad copy read, "Grown-up cotton cord by Reeves--for little ladies and gentlemen! 'Her' Prettyfore in pink, blue, maize; 1-4, 3-6x, about $6. 'His' Eton suit, in blue, loden, honey; sizes 2-4, 3-6, about $15. At I. Nagnin & Cp., California and Seattle; Sakowitz Bros., Houston; Millison's, Pikesville, Md. Or write Merry Mites, Imnc and Gay Sprites, Inc., 112 West 34th Street, New York." Reeves Fabrics apparently oproduced the corduroy fabric.

American mail order catalogs in 1961 featured jeans and other long pants for boys of various ages. Khaki slacks were a staple. Stores offered shirts in a variety of bold prints as well as standard white annd blue colors. Button down shirts were very popular. A popular style or youngr boys were shortalls. The fact that the son of the new president, John F. Kennedy, wore shortalls helped to popularize them. Younger boys might wear short pants Eton suits. Most older boys wore long pants suits. We do see boys from well-to do families earing short pants suits, but it was not very common. Some private schools had short pants school uniforms looking like British schoools. While dressing up in short pants suits was bcoming less common, we see more boys wearing shorts for play and casual wear during the summer. A popular style of casual short pants for boys in 1961 were play and camp shorts. Sears offered camp shorts in sizes to age 22.

Headwear


Toddler Clothes

A popular style or youngr boys were shortalls. The fact that the son of the new president, John F. Kennedy, wore shortalls helped to popularize them. A popular style of casual short pants for boys in 1961 were play and camp shorts. Sears offered camp shorts in sizes to age 22.

Shirts

Button-down shirts, a preppy style, were popular. Colorful "T"-shirts were standard summertime wear.

Coats


Jackets


Suits

Boys still wore suits and ties when dressing up for church and special occassions. Younger boys might wear short pants Eton suits. Notice the advertisement here (figure 1). Most older boys wore long pants suits. We do see boys from well-to do families earing short pants suits, but it was not very common. Some private schools had short pants school uniforms looking like British schoools.

Pants

Jeans were worn by most elementary school boys, although many high schools did not permit them. A variety of slacks were comminly wore to school. Khaki slacks were especially popular. While dressing up in short pants suits was bcoming less common, we see more boys wearing shorts for play and casual wear during the summer. A popular style of casual short pants for boys in 1961 were play and camp shorts.

Sears camp shorts

A popular style of casual short pants for boys in 1961 were play and camp shorts. The page from the Sears 1961 ummer catalog is headed, "Summer is shorts time." The shorts were made in sizes from 4 to 16, but in husjky sizes to 22. The colors were charcoal grey, khaki, navy, and olive. The material was cotton twill. A slightly higer priced grade was sanforized. The ad copy emphasized the sturdy construction.

Playwear


Hosiery

Most boys wore ankle socks in the 1960s. We see fewer and fewe boys wearing knee socks.

Footwear


Pajamas








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Created: May 17, 2003
Last updated: 4:10 PM 3/7/2013