Figure 1.--This catalog offered a range of socks for children. The styles for boys and girls were very destinctive. |
|
French mail order catalogs and clothing advertisements offer a very useful time line on changing fashion trends. One catalog offered specialized styles of socks for both boys and girls. Most were ankle socks, but there were some kneesocks as well.
The socks here were offerred in Les 3 Suisses Catalogue Spring-Sommer 2000. We have no information about the company at this time, including who the three Swiss people are the store is mamed after. Despite the name of the store, we believe that it us a French compny.
Il est
vrai en matière de mode vestimentaire le sens des mots
ont quelque peu varié au fil des modes et des temps .
Mes Parents étaient fabriquants en confection pour femmes
et enfants dans les années 1945-70 , et j'ai vu que le vocabulaire
s'enrichissait ou changeait de sens au gré des modes .
En France et dans toutes nos anciennes colonies , la langue
française est partout la même et nous ne notons pas de
différence, et bien entendu sur l'exagone aussi .
Lorsqu'il s'agit de bonneterie et de sous-vêtements, leur désignation
a parfois changé depuis ces dernières décennies.
Ce même phénomène est constaté également en Allemagne , Autriche
pays dans lequel j'ai vécu une partie de ma jeunesse .
Le vocabulaire littéraire , ou plus simplement celui utilisé dans les
catalogues ou encore dans les publicités diffère parfois quelque peu
avec le langage populaire.
Les gens d'aujourd'hui utilise facilement les noms des marques
pour désigner un article .
A propos de chaussettes et des bas , ces 2 termes sont couramment
en français . Toutefois avec une très légère différence, c'est ainsi
que les chaussettes désignent un article plutôt chaud, en lainage.
Dans le langage populaire , nous n'utilisons pas le mot bas lorsqu'il
s'agit d'articles pour les garçons . Le mot socquette est très populaire
car il est précis et évite la confusion avec les autres dénominations !
En ce qui concerne les chaussures , souliers, ces mots n'ont pas
changés de sens depuis fort longtemps.
Ainsi :
Chaussures est le terme général pour désigner toutes les modèles .
Souliers signifie de belles chaussures basses , modèle habillé .
Souliers n'a jamais désigné des vielles chaussures !
Dans mon temps , le dimanche nous mettions nos souliers ;
et aujourd'hui un petit garçon ou une petite fille bien habillée
met des souliers .
Il est vrai que ce mot donne une tonalité un peu trop formel face
au style décontracté des modes actuelles , ce qui fait qu'il est
moins employé .
Je vous joins un extrait de catalogue 2002 , sur les chaussettes;
bas , mi-bas ; mi-chaussettes ect ... trouvez la différence ...
It is true as regards clothe fashion the sense of the words somewhat varied ; as the fashions and times go by My Parents were
manufacturing in clothes industry for women and children in the years 1945-70, and I saw that the vocabulary grew rich or changed sense
as the mercy of the tendance . In France and in all our old colonies, the French language is everywhere the same one and we don't note a
difference, of course in our country too. When they are concerning hosiery and underclothing, their designation has sometimes changed
since last decades. This same phenomenon is also noted in Germany, Austria country in which I lived a part of my youth. The literary
vocabulary, or more simply the one used in the catalogues or in the adds differs sometimes somewhat with the popular speech. People of
today easily uses the names of the trademarks to refer to an article. In connection with " chaussettes " and " bas ", these two terms are usually in French. However with a very light difference, thus the " chaussttes " indicate a rather hot article, in wooll. In the popular speech, we do not use the word " bas " when they are articles for the boys. The word " socquettes " is very popular because it is precise and avoids confusion with the other denominations! With regard to the " chaussures ", " souliers " these words didn't change sense since a long time. As follows: " chaussures " is the general term to indicate all the models, then " Souliers " means beautiful flat shoes. Souliers never indicated hurdy-gurdies shoes ! In my time, Sunday we put our souliers ; and today a little boy or a well dressed girl wear souliers. It's true that this word gives a tonality a little too formal face to the relaxed nowaday style , with the result that it is less used. I attach a catalogue page from 2002 with: socquettes, bas, mi-bas, chaussettes, ect.--find the difference.
I'm not sure just what age children these socks are for. The sizes are 19/23-42.
One catalog offered specialized styles of socks for both boys and girls. Most were ankle socks, but there were some kneesocks as well. The socks are notable for the fact that they have a variety of pattens patterns and there are no solid colored socks. The boys socks tend to be more colorful with designs. These are quite different than children socks in America.
These were white ankle socks with small colored flower patterns. The ad copy reads, "Le lot de 3 paires de mi-chaussettes brodées fleurs. maille fantaisies,bord frisottés. 65% coton, 17% ??, 15% polyeter, 3 % élasthanne qualité Quelle plus." That translates as,
"Pack of 3 pairs of mi-chaussettes (calf-socks), embroidered flowers pattern, knitted fancy The sizes were 19 to 42 (19-23 = baby, 24-36 children, and 38-42 big teenager or adult.
These ankle socks are for boys and are done with cheerful farm yard cartoon characters. The ad copy reads, "Le lot de 8 paires de
mi-chausettes motifs "ferme" de colorie assorties. 75% coton, 22% polyamide, 5ù Polyester, 3% élasthanne." That translates as, "
Pack of 6 pairs of mi-chaussettes ( calf socks ) farm yard pattern ; pack in several color ) Sizes : 23 to 42 ( from 2 years till the tall teenager )
These were white ankle socks with small colored dots. The ad copy reads, "Le lot de 6 paires de mi-chaussettes fantaise: 2 blanches + 2 pois + 2 blanches à pois avec
noeud. 65% coton, 17% ??, 15% polyeter, 3 % élasthanne qualité quelle plus." That translates as, "Pack of 6 pairs of fancy calf-socks : 2 whites + 2 with spots and bow ;
good quality." The sizes were: 19 to 42 (from baby till tall teenager).
TThis is boys ankle socks in grey, blue, and white done with Indian cartoons. The ad copy reds, "Le lot de 5 paires de mi-chaussettes motifs " indiens " 65% coton, 17% polyamide, 15% polyester, 3% élasthanne." That translates as, "Pack of 5 pairs of calf-socks,
Indian cartoon pattern. Sizes : 19 to 42.
This is boys ankle socks or calf socks in grey, blue, and white done with airplane cartoons. The ad copy reds, "Le lot de 5 paires de mi-bas ou mi-chaussettes motifs " avions" 65% coton, 17% polyamide, 15% polyester, 3% élasthanne." That translates as, "Pack of 5 pairs of kneesocks or calfsocks ; airplane pattern. Pack of calf socks Sizes : 23 to 42. Pack of knee socks Sizes : 23 to 42. There are two other listings here. A Fremch reader writes, "The article S was offering in two sorts length : Mi-chaussettes = calfsocks (Americans would say ankle socks) and Mi-bas = kneesocks. NOTICE in popular language one tell rather: Chaussettes basses = calfsocks and Chaussettes = kneesocks. Today the word in France " bas " has a girlish conotation." Canadian readers tell us that this is not the case in Canada. See French terms below.
These are boy's calf socks with pet and sport motifs. The ad copy reads, ""Le lot de 5 paires de mi-chaussettes motifs 'chats et chiens'. 70% coton, 22% polyamide, 5% polyester, 3% élasthanne." That translates as, " Pack of 5 pairs of calf socks , pattern "cats and dogs." Sizes: 23 to 42.
The french language is remarakably consistent in the many countries in which it is soken around the world. Curiously there are differences between Cananadian French and standard French. For some reasons many of these differences concern hosiery and footwear. This page shows the terms commonly being used in France during 2002.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main French mail order 2002 page]
[Main photo/publishing page]
[Store catalogs]
[Fashion magazines]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[French glossary]
[Satellites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits]
[Sailor hats]
[Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits]
[Rompers]
[Tunics]
[Smocks]
[Pinafores]