Figure 1.-- |
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We note an American manufacturer (Nazareth) refered to "Dutch Necks" on underwear. In this case, the connection of the neck style seen here is not apparent even to our Dutch readers. I'm not sure what that meant, but the neck is certinly cut very open. I'm not sure why this is called a " Dutch Neck ". A reader write, "I think the term " Dutch Neck " refers to the rounded neck cut fairly high up on these waist union suits as opposed to a V neck or lower-cut neck. I think the "Dutch Neck" might have been more popular for boys who wanted the additional coverage and were not worried (as some girls would have been) about their underwear showing under low-cut dresses or blouses. This is just a guess, however. I don't know what is particularly "Dutch" about a high neck. Perhaps certain Dutch styles of clothing were made with a high, rounded neck?" An American reader writes, "Dutch neck refers to round neck cut lower on the body vs.. high neck version which was more prominent earlier which was one of the reasons for dickeys and shields in boy's fashions in earlier decades."
A Dutch reader writes, "It seems unlikely that fashions in Holland would have had any influence on the styling of boys' underwear in the United states in the 20th century. Rather the reverse I would think. Another compllication is that Dutch in America is sometimes confused with deutsch, i.e. German. The Pennsylvania Dutch are actually Pennsylvania Germans. Perhaps a referral to styles worn by the Amish people or the Pennsylvania Dutch?" A reader writes, "The suggestion of "Deutch" (for Dutch) is interesting. This had actually occurred to me also. The Nazareth waist suits were made in Nazaerth, Pennsylvania, in a region that had a number of "Pennsylvania Dutch" settlers. So there may be something to this connection." HBC agrees that Dutch fashions were not all that influential in America. We believe, however, that clothing manufacturers often add foreign notations to give a garment or style a kind of stylish cachet.
We note an American manufacturer (Nazareth) refered to "Dutch Necks" on underwear. In this case, the connection of the neck style seen here is not apparent even to our Dutch readers.
The fashion concerning the neck being lower is not just underwear but came over with rompers and other clothes and called Dutch necks. This connotation may be our perception of the Dutch boy clothes shown around the turn of the 20th century vs. actual Dutch styles. The name, however, stuck for quite a while.
A Dutch reader writes, "It seems unlikely that fashions in Holland would have had any influence on the styling of boys' underwear in the United states in the 20th century. Rather the reverse I would think. Another compllication is that Dutch in America is sometimes confused with deutsch, i.e. German. The Pennsylvania Dutch are actually Pennsylvania Germans. Perhaps a referral to styles worn by the Amish people or the Pennsylvania Dutch?" A reader writes, "The suggestion of "Deutch" (for Dutch) is interesting. This had actually occurred to me also. The Nazareth waist suits were made in Nazaerth, Pennsylvania, in a region that had a number of "Pennsylvania Dutch" settlers. So there may be something to this connection." HBC agrees that Dutch fashions were not all that influential in America. We believe, however, that clothing manufacturers often add foreign notations to give a garment or style a kind of stylish cachet.
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