Figure 1.--These French school uniforms were pictured in the catalog of the "Grands Magasins du Louvre" in 1899. These do not look like uniforms specifically for military schools, bit look to be uniforms worn at regular secondary schools. There were several different styles of military iniforms worn. I am not sure if all French secondary schools required these military uniforms, but they were certainly very common |
French department store catalogs offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. French mail order catalogs show a variety of popular styles in French boys' clothing during the 1890s. Little boys less commonly wore dresses, but fancy suits with bloused kneepants were popular for parents that could afford them. Paris department suits offered a wide range of suits and hats for boys. The most popular style for younger boys was the sailor suit. Boys wore both long pants and kneepants for dress wear. Boys wore both sailor hats and caps as well as a range of more mature headwear. Clothing in real terms was less expensive than in the 19th century, but still more expensive than is the case today. We note school uniforms in military styles.
Here we see an illustration for children's fashions from a 1897 edition of Le Monde. It shows a boys kneepants suit and little girl's dress. It does not look like an advertisement to us, but rather a fashion article.
We note school uniforms in military styles. These do not look like uniforms specifically for military schools, bit look to be uniforms worn at regular secondary schools. There were several different styles of military iniforms worn. I am not sure if all French secondary schools required these military uniforms, but they were certainly very common.
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