Figure 1.--The children's and misses' suits were made for two overlapping age groups for 4-16 years. The use of the term "children" for the younger styles is confusing, but probably means younger girls. These suits seem recogniazably girls' styles.
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Figure 1.--The children's and misses' suits were made for two overlapping age groups for 4-16 years. The use of the term "children" for the younger styles is confusing, but probably means younger girls. These suits seem recogniazably girls' styles. |
At this time HBC does not know the date of this catalog, but believes it was the early 1880s, perhaps late 1870s. These skirted garments are probably referred to as suits because they had jacket like garments which were made in the same material as the skirted part of the garment. Curriosly, outfits for two different age groups are mixed on this and two other similar pages. Altman on page 47 offered skirted suits for two age groups, 4 to 12 years and 10 to 16 years. Note the overlap between the sizes. The younger children's styles have shorter skirts and more recognizeable jackets. These suits are mostly dark colors, primarily brown, blue, and gray, but there are also some lighter, brughter colrs offered. This page had some coats that were clearly styled fir gurls. Note that the coats hace a jacket-like coat added at the top which the ad copy refers to as a cape.
There are few clues in the drawings of the younger children as hair styles could be misleading. One child on page 45 is shown with a hoop. Usually boys are pictured with hoops, but girls played with them as well. It seems curious, however, to show a child in a suit playing with a hoop. HBC tends to believe, however, that as the children's suits are made to size 12 that they were probably meant for girls.
Four different styles are offered in the younger styles.
"Heavy Cloth Jacket Gaenet, Green or Brown, trimmed with mottled? plush to match." Sizes, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 yrs. Prices $8.50-10.75. Note the child carries an umbrella, a likely device indicating a girl. The term jacket seems interchangable with jacket.
"Mixed cloth coat, trimmed with Mottled Plush, Plalte? in back, band of Plush above." Sizes, 4, 6, 8, and 10 yrs. Prices $3.90-5.50. I'm not sure what she is shown as carrying, perhaps books.
"Brown or Green Beaver Cloth Coat, with Cape, Collar and Cuffs of Mottled Plush." Sizes, 4, 6, 8, and 10 yrs. Prices $7.90-10.25. Note the bussle effect at the back of the coat. This is a clearly girls' style.
"Garnet, Blue or Brown Plush Jacket, trimmed with Chinchilla Fur, lined with Quilted Farmer's satin; Plalts? down front and back, Belt and handsome Buckle." Sizes, 4, 6, 8, and 10 yrs. Prices $18.50-22.75. This was a much more expensive garment than the others pictured. Also note the use of the belt.
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