Figure 1.--Eatons was Canada's most important catalog and depatment store chain. We note an Eaton's page in the 1936-37 Fall Winter catalog for boys' suits. We do not have the full page, but we do have the part offering two styles of short pants suits.

Eatons was Canada's most important catalog and depatment store chain. We note an Eaton's page in the 1936-37 Fall Winter catalog for boys' suits. We do not have the full page, but we do have the part offering two styles of short pants suits. The suits are for boys ages 4 to 12 years. There were differences in the age range of the two styles. Note that these suits are shown being worn with long stockings. Probably in the Spring-Summer catalog they would have been shown being worn with kneesocks.

Eatons

This ad comes from the Eaton Fall and Winter catalog for 1936-37, p. 187. T. Eaton was Canada's most important department store and mail-order catalog. 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

Terminology

Eaton's refers to these suits as have "knee pants" rather than "short pants". As retailers and manufacturers were not consistent with the terms used, HBC has imposed a more standardized terminology in archiving these pages and in discussing the various styles. We would classify these suits as short pants suits. The trousers come to slightly above the knee but are longer than many short-pants suits being worn in the United States in 1936-37. Boys in Canada seem to have worn short pants (or knee pants) suits a bit longer than in the U.S. One of these suits is made in sizes to fit a boy of 12. In the U.S. ten years old seems to be the cut-off point. Eaton's shows most knee pants suits during the 1930s being worn with long stockings rather than with knee socks although there are some exceptions. In Quebec long stockings continued to be worn with short pants throughout the decade.

Suit Styles Offered

Eaton's offered several different syyles of suits on this page. We do not have the full page to determine just what was on offer. We do know that there were both single- and double-breasted suits. There were both long and short pants suits. There were probably knickers as well, but we cannot confirm that at this time.

Short Pants Suit Styles

Eaton's offered two styles of short pants suits, one with a single-breasted jacket, the other with a double breasted jacket. There were differences in the age range of the two styles, I'm notsure if that was the result of the styling differences.

All-Wool Brown Tweed with Half Belt at Back

The Earton's ad copy read, "Sizes 24 to 30, for 6 to 12 years. 94-1302. Knee Pant Junior Suit of All Wool Brown Tweed in a smart style with two pin hem and half belt at back. Strongly tailored to give good wear, they are finished unlined with Venetian yoke. Single breasted style with three patch pockets and notched lapels. Knee Pants are cotton line. Price $3.75 delivered."

All-Wool Blue Cheviot

The Earton's ad copy read, "Fox's All-Wool Cheviot Suit lined with Art silk (trade marked). Double breasted style cut on full fitting sizes and have the appearance mothers like for better wear. Knee Pants are cotton lined; have three pockets. Sizes 22 to 28, for 4 to 10 years. 94-1300. Coat and one Pair Knee Pants, Delivered $4.25. 94-1301. Coat and Two Pairs Knee Pants, Delivered. $4.95."

Hosiery

It can get very cold in Canada, especially during the Winter. Note that these suits are shown being worn with long stockings which would help boys wearing short pants stay warm in the cold weather. Probably in the Spring-Summer catalog they would have been shown being worn with kneesocks.

Reader Comments

An American reader writes, "The suit on the left in the imge here (single-breasted) is very similar to the ones I wore in Pennsylvania in the late 1930s, also with long stockings."

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Created: 3:32 PM 3/12/2007
Last updated: 3:32 PM 3/12/2007