Figure 1.--This is a photograph from a maternelle ( Kindergarden ) in 1954. Two little boys are dressed in rompers. One boy wears a traditional one piece romper which is smocked in front. His mother has added a wool long sweater under his romper, perhaps the weather was a bit chilly. Note the little round collar and puffed sleeves. Almost certainly there is a big bow in back.

Rompers are a garment we have noted being worn primarily by French boys before they began primary school at age 6 years. We have noted, however, boys commonly wearing rompers in maternelle (nursery school or kindergarten). The French school system is a little complicated. As we understand maternelle there were two scections. Maternelle moyenne section was for 4 year olds. Maternelle grande section was for 5 year olds. There are quite a few school photographs showing that rompers in maternelle were relatively common. As there was no school uniform this is presumably a reflection of how popular rompers were during this period. Of course many of these boys as well as many girls were also wearing smocks. While most boys wearing smocks wore short pants under their smocks, surely some must have also worn rompers. It is not posible at this time to fully assess this. We have a photograph from a maternelle ( Kindergarden ) in 1954. Two little boys are dressed in rompers. One boy wears a traditional one piece romper which is smocked in front. His mother has added a wool long sweater under his romper, perhaps the weather was a bit chilly. Note the little round collar and puffed sleeves. Almost certainly there is a big bow in back.

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Created: May 10, 2004
Last updated: 11:19 PM 7/31/2007