Figure 1.-- We notice a Best & Co advertisement for a boy's sailor blouse from an unidentified magazine. The ad is undated, but looks like the 1900s to us. A white sailor blouse is depicted. It was white lawn and a white duck collar. It was done 2 1/2 to 8 years. Best was a New York Department store with only one store in New York City. They also had a mail order catalog so people who did not live in New York could order the clothes. Best's children's department was called Liliputian Bazar, reference to 'Gulliver's Travels'.

We notice a Best & Co advertisement for a boy's sailor blouse from an unidentified magazine. The ad is undated, but looks like the 1900s to us. A white sailor blouse is depicted. It was white lawn and a white duck collar. It was done 2 1/2 to 8 years. Best was a New York Department store with only one store in New York City. They also had a mail order catalog so people who did not live in New York could corder the clothes. Best's children's department was called Liliputian Bazar, reference to Gulliver's Travels. There children's

Best & Co

The Best & Company appears to have been an important New York City department store that went natioanl. The built a large store at 645 5th Avenue at East 51st Street, NE Corner (Wing on 52nd Street). It was located in Midtown Manhattan. The building was replaced by the Olympic Tower of Aristotle Onassis. I am not sure when the company was founded, but it must have been in the mid-19th century. We note the company handling Little Lord Fauntleroy suits, probably in the 1890s. We note a catalog with rompers from 1912. We note that the company was active in the 1950s and 60s. They varried an extensive line of fashionanle clothes. One fashion writer in 1957 noted that Kays Thompson, author of Eloise autographed at Best & Company in New York where various Eloise products were available. We know that Best & Company was a major U.S. depattment store chain. Best's children's department was called Liliputian Bazar, reference to Gulliver's Travels. Best was a New York Department store with only one store in New YorkCity. They also had a mail order catalog so people who did not live in New York could corder the clothes.

Sailor Blouses

A middy blouse is a loose blouse with a "V" shaped sailor collar and usually large square extension in the back. It usually extends below the waistline to terminate in a broad band or fold. The sailor suit and middy blouse popularized by Queen Victoria in the 1840s for the young princes was accurately based on the actual uniform worn by British seamen. Boys blouses during the late 19th century could be quite fancy with both lace and ruffled collars. Less fancy blouses were also popular. Basic middy blouses were worn with sailor suits. While most were plain, there were also fancier styles made with lace and ruffles for little girls and boys.

Garment

We notice a Best & Co advertisement for a boy's sailor blouse from an unidentified magazine. A white sailor blouse is depicted. It was white lawn and a white duck collar. Lawn and duck were popular fabrics. The sailor blouse was done 2 1/2 to 8 years. As in Britain, the sailor style wasprimarily worn by younger boys.

Ad Copy

The ad copy read, " BLOUSE: Of white lawn, white duck collar and sailor knot; collar, shield, and cuffs trimmed in blue. Sizes 2 1/2 to 8. $1.00. Many articles for special purposes, in addition to the greatest variety for everything usually kept for Children's wear, can be ordered by mail from our new Catalogue -- sent for 4 cents postage. Over 1000 Illustrations. We have no agents. Our goods sold only at this one store."

Chronolgy

The ad is undated, but looks like the 1900s to us.

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Created: 5:21 AM 11/27/2010
Last updated: 7:35 PM 11/27/2010