Figure 1.--The French boy models a duffle coat offered by the Bonpoint chain store for Winter 1999-2000. Notice that it does not have the characteristic toggles and the red color.
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Figure 1.--The French boy models a duffle coat offered by the Bonpoint chain store for Winter 1999-2000. Notice that it does not have the characteristic toggles and the red color. |
We have also noted in being worn in France, but do not think it was a major style. French clothing manufacturers, I believe, after World War II, although I have limited chronolgical information, copied the duffle coat style from England. The fact that Field Marshall Montgomery and other British soldiers liberating France wore it may have helped poopularize the style. One source reports that duffle coats were very popular in France during the 1970s. Unlike the English, French duffle coats have not been restricted to muted colors, but were made in several bright colors, including shades in red. I am not sure of the fabrics used in France. Many French duffle coats appeared without the wood toggles commonly worn on Britsish duffle coats. The one French image we have shows a younger boy modeling it 1999 and the coat shown does not have the characteristic toggles.
We have also noted in being worn in France, but do not think it was a major style.
French clothing manufacturers, I believe, after World War II, although I have limited chronolgical information, copied the duffle coat style from England. The fact that Field Marshall Montgomery and other British soldiers liberating France wore it may have helped poopularize the style. A French reader tells us, "The duflle coat came in force in France around 1953 . The first duffle coat were grey and were for both, boys and girls more 8 years old. The children loved these coats. I perfectly remember having one. Since this fashion was more or less current here. Since 1998 this fashion has coming back in force , even for the baby. One can find several different colors." One source reports that duffle coats were very popular in France during the 1970s.
Unlike the English, French duffle coats have not been restricted to muted colors, but were made in several bright colors, including shades in red.
I am not sure of the fabrics used in France.
Many French duffle coats appeared without the wood toggles commonly worn on Britsish duffle coats. The one French image we have shows a younger boy modeling it 1999 and the coat shown does not have the characteristic toggles (figure 1).
Bonpoint is a well-known retail chain in France offering luxury products. Many foring visitors shop there when they come to France. Bonpoint have several boutiques in Paris where one can buy classic styles like some of those discussed in HBC. They have, for example, traditionl rompers for little boys. Bonpoint can offers a variety of styles which may not be available in the larger sores which often sell trendy styles in large quantities. Bonpoint clothes are always well made and offer many classic styles for smaller but loyal customer base from the more affluent families in Paris. The duffle coat in the 2000s i a good example of one of these classic syles.
A HBC reader writes concerning this image, "My wife , looking at the picture tells me that the boy seems wearing tights. [HBC note: Unlike Germany, tights were not very popular in France for boys. This image, however, comes a fashion magazine which sometimes pose the children rather imagainatively. The length of the boy's shorts suggest to us that 1999 may be a correct date.]
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