Figure 1.--The Au Bon Marché Paris department store offered this double-breasted suit with straight-leg knickers. Note the homburg-like hat. The ilustrations suggests long stockings rather than kneesocks.
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Figure 1.--The Au Bon Marché Paris department store offered this double-breasted suit with straight-leg knickers. Note the homburg-like hat. The ilustrations suggests long stockings rather than kneesocks. |
Au Bon Marché in its 1911 catalog shows a double-breasted knicker suit for boys. It is not described any further than a "costume" or suit. The suit was available for boys beginning at size age 8. There is no indication as to the upper size range. It was shown worn with a boy wearing a rather adult-looking hat rather like a homburg.
Au bon Marché is a large Paris department store. We are not sure when it was founded, but we have noted advertisments for
boys clothing from the early 20th century. I'm not sure when the store was founded or any details about it. The hat here was offered in the Winter 1911 catalog.
The ad copy read, "No. 58297. Costume 3 piéces, veston croisé mode, draperie nouveauté, qualité supérieure. 8 ans ... Fr 35. 2 Fr enplus par àge. This would translate as, "Three piece suit, double-breasted jacket mode, innotative drap, higher quality. 8 years... Fr 35. 2 Fr additional for each year of age."
HBC has noted the term "drap" commonly used in French clothing catlogs during the early 20th century. "Drap" is a fabric related to the English word "drapery". However when used to describe a fabric used in boys clithing it means an inexpensive serge fabric.
The double breasted suit shown here was made in sizes beginning at age 7. The illustration shows a much older boy wearing it. The upper size range is not shown.
Double breasted styling was very popular in France during the early 20th century. Most of the jackets and coats shown by Au Bon Marché are double breasted. This suit is only described as a "costume" or suit. Although not shown, the suit as it is three pices presumably has a vest to go wiyth it. Note that the boy wears very straight leg knickers that are closed with a single button leg cuff. Compare thesekniclers to the bloomer knickers worn by the boy in the "costume baby" worn by the younger boy in the illustraion shown here.
Au Bon Marché also offers a Norfolk suit for a boy of similar age. The knickers appear to have identical styling.
The illustration shows the boy wearing a rather adult-looking hat which appears to be rather like a homburg.
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