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Mail order catalogs chronicle trends in fashions. Canada joined England in World War II in 1939. I'm not sure at this time how the War affected clothing styles and availability. Eatons in the 1940s had French-language catalogs. I'm not sure when this began. The French editions made Eatond became a big seller among French-Canadians. Long stockings are still advertized, even during the summer. You notice American clothes entering the Canadian market. The U.K. was totally absorbed by the War in the early 40s and in the late 40s the economy was devestated. The English fashion industry was not producing new styles and could not even satisfy domestic nglish demand. Canada was not devestated by the War, but like America had an expanding economy. The French populstion in Montréal was growing. Eatons used the linguistic approach to develop the French-speking market. Long stockings was a concession for rural customs where catholic religion was extremely strong. It was not until the 1960s that French-speaking Canadians fully accepted modern styles.
We have a few catalog items from the 1940s. There is some useful information on Canadian hosiery--long stockings, three-quarter hose, knicker hose, infants' stockings in the Eaton's Spring-Summer 1940 catalog. We also note ads from the Eaton's Fall and winter 1940-41 catalog for long stockings which were still commonly worn. Two kinds of summer underwear for boys. This ad comes from an Eaton's Spring and Summer catalog for 1940, p. 146. Two styles of lightweight, sleeveless union suits ("combinations" in Canada) are modeled here.
We do not yet know much about 1941. We do have information on hosiery. Eaton's offered long stockings and not only in the fall and winter catalog. We note an ad for long stockings in the Eaton's Spring-Summer 1941 catalog. Another Eaton's Spring-Summer 1941 catalog page offers additional hosiery. It combines ads for long stockings with those for knee socks. One thing that seems a bit unusual is the designation "knicker socks". We note another long stockings ad in the Eaton's Fall Winter 1941-42 catalog.
We note a Eaton's 1942 ad for long stockings which still seem popular in Canada. Both knickers and long stockings were rapidly going out of style in America at the time.
Simpson's in 1943 had rompers. They were for boys, but were done in younger sizes than French rompers. The Canadian rompers were more similar to those offered in America and Brirain. Simpson's also offered a baby harness.
We have very little information about Canadian catalog offerngs in 1945. This of course was the last year of World War II. We note a French Canadian catalogue that offered Depuis Brothers long stocking and golf socks in their 1945-46 Fall and Winter catalog. We have information on Simpson's long underwear from the 1945-46 Fall-Winter catalog.
You notice American clothes entering the Canadian market. The U.K. was totally absorbed by the War in the early 40s and in the late 40s the economy was devestated. The English fashion industry was not producing new styles and could not even satisfy domestic nglish demand. Nor do we see any hint of French fashion. Canada was not devestated by the War, but like America had an expanding economy. The French populstion in Montréal was growing. Eatons used the linguistic approach to develop the French-speking market. We notice French-language Eatons catalogs in 1946, but am not sure when this begn. There were a variety of short and long pants play outfits. Notice the button-on styling. We notice suits and spork jackets for boys. Girls still wear mostly dresses, but pants are offered. Long stockings was a concession for rural customs where catholic religion was extremely strong. It was not until the 1960s that French-speaking Canadians fully accepted modern styles.
As long stockings were still worn in Canada we note stocking supporters. We note pages from Eaton's Fall and Winter catalogue for 1948-49 showing a variety of support garments, both underwaists and garter waists. Among the seven different models of support garments on offer, only one is specified as designed for girls.
Eatons offered a range of long stockings in a limited range of colors, black white, and brown (Eaton used the term fawn) shades. They were offered for both boys and girls but the ad models were girls wearing skirts. We see a page with both long stockings and socks in the 1949-50 Winter catalog. Long stockings were no longer commonly worn in America, except perhaps the most northerly states. Long stockings persisted for a few more years in Canada. We also notice various styles of socks. We also notice that Eaton's offered a range of different types of stocking supporters for long stockings that were still worn in Canada.
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