French Mail Order Catalogs with Boys Clothings: 1950


Figure 1.--This pattern was offered in the "Petit Echo de la Mode" April 1950 issue to make these different styles of school smocks. All the ones shown are for boys except the ine at the upper right. This pattern was for boys up to age 7, but the patterns were available in larger sized for older boys. The caption at the tops says, "The Practical Smock".

French mail order catalogs, clothing advertisements, and fashion magazines offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. Sewing mahazines are an especially good source of information as they provide so much detail about the garments. A 1950 sewing magazine provide a pattern for an outfit made up of a sleeveless sweater and romper bloomer pants. It was for a boy 5-6 years old. HBC is not sure how commonly such outfits were actually worn by French boys.

Little Boy Outfits

At this time we have infornation on only one 1950 little bou outfit, a romper sweing pattern.

Mon Ouvrage romper sewing patterns

A French sewing magazing in December 1950 offered this design for a 5-6 year boys' outfit. It was a sleevless sweater worn with a shirt and tie and romper pants. The romper pants did not have suspender attachments, but instead an elastic waist band. They were called "cullotes" (short pants) rather than "barboteuse" rompers. Apparently this was the case for the separate romper pants that were worn like shorts.

Petit Echo de la Mode: Toddler suit sewing patterns

This pattern was offered in the "Petit Echo de la Mode" April 1950 issue to make these different styles of toddler outfits, both baboteuses and reguar shorts set. The caption at the tops says, "Les petits s'ammsent", Meaning "the little ones ???".

School Smocks

Quite a variety of smocks were avaialblr for both boys and girls in 1950 and they were widely worn by both. Many of the styles were quite similar, but boys in particular could easily tell the differences.

Petit Echo de la Mode: School smock sewing patterns

This pattern was offered in the "Petit Echo de la Mode" April 1950 issue to make these different styles of school smocks. All the ones shown are for boys except the ine at the upper right. This pattern was for boys up to age 7, but the patterns were available in larger sized for older boys. The caption at the tops says, "The Practical Smock".

Coats


Jackets


Suits


Short Sets

Shorts sets are shorts pants in the same material and style or coordinated with a blouse or shirt. One popular style in the 1950s was the safari suit.

Patrons de Marie Claire: Safari suits sewing patterns

A French pattern company in 1950 offered patterns for safari suits for boys from 3-7 years of age. The company rather incongrously subtiltled the package, "Elegance de Paris.

Petit Echo de la Mode: Dressy shorts set sewing patterns

This pattern was offered in the "Petit Echo de la Mode" April 1950 issue to make two styles of dressy shorts sets. The caption at the tops says, "Les petits s'ammsent", Meaning "the little ones ???".

Pants


Petit Echo de la Mode: Play pants sewing patterns

This pattern was offered in the "Petit Echo de la Mode" April 1950 issue to make two styles of bib0front play pants, one short pants and the other long pants, looking rather like overalls. The caption at the tops says, "Les petits s'ammsent", Meaning "the little ones ???".

Hosiery










Christopher Wagner






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Created: October 19, 2001
Last updated: March 20, 2002