Figure 1.--The Dutch woman's magazine "Libelle" offered the pattern for this lapelless Eton suit in a 1949 issue. Notice the Eton-styled collar. The size range is not specified, but Jan looks to be 5-6 years old.
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Figure 1.--The Dutch woman's magazine "Libelle" offered the pattern for this lapelless Eton suit in a 1949 issue. Notice the Eton-styled collar. The size range is not specified, but Jan looks to be 5-6 years old. |
Libelle in 1949 provided a pattern for an Eton suit for younger boys. I am not sure how common this style was in the Netherlands. It was a very popular style in
American for boys from affluent families. I'm not sure if it had the same social connotations in the Netherlands.
Libelle was founded in 1933. We know that they were very popular after World War II in
the late 1940s and 50s. A Dutch reader tells us that Libelle is a magazine for woman which
has a special fashion section in it which often included patterns. They not only offer knitting patterns, but all kinds of sewing patterns for mothers and grandmothers to sew at home. Libelle was very popular in the Netherlands as well as Flemish areas of Belgium. Libelle still exists today. The magazine has an internet site, but as it is in Dutch, we can not read it. It appears to be evolving into a life-style magazine and does not give the same attention to fashion as they once did. There are today far fewer patterns, reflecting the fact that fewer Futch mothers now sew their own and their children's clothes.
The age fpr which the pattern was meant is not specified. Jan looks to be 5-6 years old.
Libelle in one 1949 issue offered an Eton suit pattern. The ad copy reads, "The suiyt A1339 is wearing, has short pants and a coat without collar that reaches the hips. Besides the two slit pockets, a little pocket is made in the left front." Note that it is worn with a blouse that has an Eton-styled collar.
The suit in America is called an Eton suit. I'm not sure how it is described in Dutch.
I am not sure how common this style was in the Netherlands. It was a very popular style in American for boys from affluent families. I'm not sure if it had the same social connotations in the Netherlands.
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