Figure 1.--Most of these wash suits were sailor suits, but there was one double-breasted suit. All had kneepants which Eatons also referred to as short pants. The boy wearing te double-breasred suit is pictured wearing a boater.
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Figure 1.--Most of these wash suits were sailor suits, but there was one double-breasted suit. All had kneepants which Eatons also referred to as short pants. The boy wearing te double-breasred suit is pictured wearing a boater. |
Eaton's offered several styles of suits, many apparently with sailor styling in their Spring and Summer 1901 catalog. The sizes were chest measurements from 22-27 inches. Notice the use of "short pants". The term seams to have been used interchangeably with "knee pants" which was more commonly used. These were complete outfits. The "washing" means that the outfits were washable. These were mostly sailor suits, including a Man of War suit, but there was one double breasted suit.
T. Eaton's was a well known Toranto department store. Their catalogs provide a good indication of the styles popular in Canada at the time. This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store
chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton
empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
Note the rather informal headwear shown with these blouses and suits, even the fancy ones. Note of the boys pictured in the illustrationswear wide-brimmed sailor hats.
Notice the use of "short pants". The term seams to have been used interchangeably with "knee pants" which was more commonly used. The "washing" means that the outfits were washable.
The sizes were chest measurements from 22-27 inches.
The images show many of the boys in sailor suits wearing the "saucer" type sailor cap with their sailor suits. This was the cap worn by British and American sailors at the ime and I assume Canadian sailors as well. None of the boys wear wide-nrimmed sailor hat. The boy in the double-breasted suit wears a boater.
Figure 2.--Here are more of the wash suits, all sailor suits. Notice the Man-of-War suit at the right. |
Eatons lists several of these "washing suits". Sailor suits were very common. Eatons seem to stress the buttons.
The as copy reads, "Washing suits, in narrow and wide striped galatea, light, light medium and dark colors, sailor collar, pear buttons ... 75c"
The ad copy read, "Light and dark blue stripes, black and white stripes, also khaki and white, plain colors, open front blouses with singlet ... 1.00"
This was cut like No. 307. The ad copy read, "Drill, duck, and galatea, large assorted stock, in plain and stripped patterns, light blue, khaki and white stripes, also white and khaki plain open front blouses, pearl buttons ... 1.50."
The ad copy read, "Boys' sailor suits of brown Holland, deep sailor collar, trimmed with 2 rows narrow white braid and 1 row 1/2-inch wide, pear buttons ... 1.00"
The ad copy read, "Double-breasted brown Holland suit, bone buttons, 1.25"
In addition to the boys' washing suits, blouse and short pants sets there was one Man of war suit. I am not entirely sure how these Man-of-War suits differ from regular sailor suits, but note the Eaton's version had long pants. Perhaps th idea was that it was more like an actual naval uniform.
This was a boys' washing Man-of-War suit. These suits were made in sizes to 27 inch chest measurement. The ad copy read, "White English drill blouse and long pants, blue drill collar trimmed with white .. 2.50." This was an especially expensive suit. I'm not entirly sure why.
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