Figure 1.--Well dressed French boys from middle class families commonly wore overcoats diring the winter through the 1950s. They were less common for working class boys. Modern French boys rarely wear overcoats, prefering instead trendy jackets.

HBC has just begun to collect information on French coats. At this point we just have some scattered observations. We do not yet know to what extent boys' coat styles were created in France. At this stage we can only report coat styles that we have noted in France. Some are quite destictive to France, others were styles that we have also noted in other countries. We note that some coats in the mid-19th century were called palentotes. We are unsure, however, just what a paletote was. We notice that French boys are also pictured goung to school in capes rather than coats. We believe that this was primarily a style at private schools. Beginning about the 1940s we begin to note classic double-breasted coats for little boys, referred to in French as "manteau baby". They coats were also very popular in America and England.

Paletots

We note that some coats in the mid-19th century were called paletotes. We are unsure, however, just what a paletote was. We also do not know to what extent they were worn in other countries. HBC at this time has no detailed information on paletotes, only one general page.

Capes

We notice that French boys are also pictured goung to school in capes rather than coats. This appears to have been a scchool style rather than a geberal style worn by French children. Both boys and girls wore them. We do not know if there were difference between boys and girls' capes. We blieve that this was primarily a style at private schools.

Manteau Baby

Beginning about the 1940s we begin to note classic double-breasted coats for little boys, referred to in French as "manteau baby". They coats were also very popular in America and England. We are not sure where this style first appeared, but we begin noticing it in France in the late 1940s, but it may have originated even earlier. It is a style generaly associated with wealthy children. Prince Charles and other wealthy English children wore them. As did wealthy American children, including John F. Kennedy, Jr. They were worn by boith boys and girls. I'm not sure if there were differences in the styles worn by boys and girls. There were a variety of stylistic differences, but I do not know if these were associated with gender. Stylistic differences included such variations as the cuts/vents on the back of the coat. Some had velvet detailing on the lapels.

Overcoats

We note French boys wearing overcoats in the mid-20th century. Well dressed French boys from middle class families wore overcoats during the winter through the 1950s. I think it was somewhat of a dressy style. We note boys wearing belted overcoats, rather like the gaberdine coats British boys wore to school. I don't think it was a common school style in France. We know less about the materials used in the French coats. I think these were primarily a post-World War I style, but we don't have any definitive information at this time. They were less common for working class boys. Modern French boys rarely wear overcoats, prefering instead trendy jackets.

Unidentified Garment

Here is what looks to HBC to be a velvet child's caot made in Paris, probably about 1830. It certainly buttons like a coat. The puff sleeves, however, make it a little difficult to classify.

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Created: November 14, 2001
Last updated: 12:47 AM 10/22/2007