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The middy blouse, especially the white middy blouse with a blue skirt was commonly worn by American girls to school in the 1910s-20s. Sailor dresses were also popular. We notice them in America and many European countries. This was especially the case in Germany as can be seen here (figure 1). Some sailor suits were traditionally styled. Others like the dress here were more fashionably styled. The increasing popularity of the sailor suit for girls' clothing may have been a factor explaining why the sailorsuit declined in popularity amony American boys. Dresses with sailor suit collars were very popular as gym suits in girls schools during the first half of the 20th century. Also, many girls and women's bathing suits used both versions of the sailor collar. If you'll check out the Dover Everyday Fashions of the Twenties on p. 38 you'll find a "sports" outfit for teenaged girls consisting of a "middy blouse" and a pleated plaid skirt. Modified sailor collars are also shown on the other "sports" and "play suits" for older girls shown on the page. On page 78 are more "middies" touted as a "costume for the schoolgirl or co-ed for sport or year round utility wear."
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