Figure 1.--The Au Bon Marché Paris department store offered this sailor suit in 1911. The sailor suit is the outfit in back the outfit in back was called a "Costume Baby", click on the image for details. |
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The Paris Deparment store Au Bon Marché in its winter 1911 catalog offered sailor suits. The sailor suit was one of the most popular outfits for boys. The suits were made for boys to 13 years. The outfit included a middy blouse and kneeants and as it is winter is shown as being worn with long stockings. They are shown with flat-top sailor caps.
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.
Two sailor suits are mentioned in the Au Bon Marché winter catalog. They sound quite similar. Only one is illustrated.
The ad copy read, "No. 58293. Costume Marin blouse bouffante serge bleue qualité superieure double col soie bleu marine, cravat et cordelière soie, gilet crem brode soie broderie or à la manche. 3 ans ... Fr 39. 1 Fr en plus par àge." This would translate as, "Sailor suit billowing out blouse, blue serge, higher quality doubled collar navy blue silk shelf and lannyard, embroidered cream dicky or waistcoat, gold embroidery on sleeve. 3 years ... Fr 39. 1 Fr more per year of age. "
Au Bon Marché mentions another sailor suit under "Affaires Exceptionnelles" which is not illustrated but sounds very similar to the one illustrated. The ad copy reads, "Costume marin blouse bouffante serge bleue belle qualité piastron serge créme, double col coutif, crevate et cordetière soie, broderie or à la manche. 3 à 6 ans ... Fr 15.50. 7 à 9 ans ... Fr 16.50. 10 à 13 ans ... Fr 17.50.
This sailor suit like the "costume baby" shown ith it was made in sizes beginning at age 3. The upper age range it not shown, but it was likely made for boys up to about 13 years. The upper range of the costume baby was probably for younger boys.
The sailor suit pictured here is a very traditional blue serge suit consisting of middy blouse and kneepants. It does not have the three traditional stripes often found on these suits. The trim is not repeated on the sleeve cuffs. Thr sleeves are blouced to the cuffs which are closed with a button. The middy blouse has both lanyard and silk scarfe. I'm not sure a whistle is included.
The sailor suit illusrated here is shown as being worn with a flat-topped sailor cap. The Paris Deparment store Au Bon Marche in its winter 1911 catalog offered two sailor caps that except for an inscription on the cap band look quite similar. The caps are shown being worn with a traditionally styled sailor cap. The sailor suit and cap was one of the most popular outfits for boys. The sizes were not specified, but were probably for boys to about 13 years of age.
A boy wearing a sailor suit in cold weather would be likely to wear it with a reefer jacket. The Au Bon Marché catalog showing a reefer jacket, does not picture it with a boy wearing a sailor suit, but this probably was more likely thana boy wearing a regular suit.
The sailor suit shown here is worn with long stockings as it is a winter catalog. During the summer this or similar outfits in lighter material more likely would have been worn with three-quarter length socks.
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