Sears Cape Overcoats (1902)


Figure 1.--Sears offered two styles of cape overcoats done in dark mixed cassimere and blue beaver cloth. We are not sure just what was meant by beaver cloth. We are Only one is illustrated. We are not sure the styling is identical. both were done fof boys' age 4 to 12 years. The cape was detachable, presumably on boy styles. We are not sure just how popular these cape overcoats were.

Sears offered two styles of cape overcoats done in dark mixed cassimere and blue beaver cloth. We are not sure just what was meant by beaver cloth. We are Only one is illustrated. We are not sure the styling is identical. both were done fof boys' age 4 to 12 years. The cape was detachable, presumably on boy styles. We are not sure just how popular these cape overcoats were. We had thouht they were primarilly an upper-class style, but Sears marketed to the mass market and was very important in rural areas.

Sears

The Sears, Roebuck and Co., huge merchandising firm centered in Chicago was founded by Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) and A.C. Roebuck (1864-1948). Sears had begun a career in mail-order business in Minnesota 1886. In Chicago he and Roebuck joined resources and formed a corporation in 1893 as a mail-order business under title Sears, Roebuck and Company. In 1895 Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) bought Roebuck's interest in firm and became president on Sears's retirement 1908. A retail-store system was added 1925. The first foreign store added in Havana, Cuba during 1945 and becane the first expropriated store in 1960. The Sears-Roebuck brought the production of industry to the fartherest corner of rural America, opening the cornucopia of the consumer age to rural America. All the new things that were changing American life danced across their pages. Through it, a huge Chicago warehouse offers to modernize the farms and small towns of the Midwest.

Cape Overcoats

Sears offered two styles of cape overcoats done in dark mixed cassimere and blue beaver cloth. We are not sure just what was meant by beaver cloth. We are Only one is illustrated. We are not sure the styling is identical. both were done fof boys' age 4 to 12 years. The cape was detachable, presumably on boy styles. We are not sure just how popular these cape overcoats were. We had thouht they were primarilly an upper-class style, but Sears marketed to the mass market and was very important in rural areas.

Boys' cape overcoat in dark mixed cassimere

One of the cape overcoats was done in dark mixed cassimere. We are not sure what cassimere is, but it was not cashmere. It was probably a word created to sound like cashmere. I'm also not sure what dark mixed means, but think it refers to dark shade, perhsaps mixed in a muted pattern. The cape was detachable. I'm not sure what was meant by "Italian body lining". Presumably the use of an Italian material suggested quality to Americans at the time. Whether the material was imported from Italy and what kind of material it was we do not know. The Sears ad copy read, "We have this number in several shades, some in a dark brown and some in a green mixed heavy weight cassimere, materials especially well adapted for cape overcoats which will give splendid satisfaction. The coats are lined with a good quality of Italian body lining, are thoroughly well sewed and have a large detachable cape. No. 40T922 Price for boys' cape overcoat, ages 4 to 12 years ... $2.50."

Boys' blue beaver cape overcoat

This is the cape overcoat illustrated here. Note the reference to Rareton Mills. It is unusual in these ads to specify a specific mill. We know nothing about this mill. Beaver cloth was a material developed in England. It was a wool fabric made so as to stimulate expensive beaver fur. Note the double styled coat and the Ulster pockets. The Sears ad copy, "The coat is made from an extra good quality Rareton Mills blue beaver cloth and makes a very dressy and warm garment. It is made in double breasted style with a large detachable cape, well lined and tailored. It has large ulster pockets, two lower pockets and is double stitched all round. A very detachable garment in every respect at a price much below that at which garments of this material usually sell. No. 40T924 Price for boys' cape overcoat, ages 4 to 12 years ... $3.50."

Ulster

Ulster of course is the northern provinces of Ireland with a large Protestant population and as a result did not join the Irish Free State when int was formed (1922) which late became the Irish Republic. Uldter was the most heavily indistrialized area of Ireland with many textile mills. As a result, there are many clothing terms associated with Ireland. Note the term of "ulster pockets". This appears to be verically cut slash pockets. There were also ulster overcoats, long overcoats originally made of Irish frieze. There was also ulster cloth.

Age Grouping

Notice the age grouping here , 10-16 years. Age groupings seem more flexible than today and often specific styles are more likely to have specufic age ranges than today. Also in 1902, school age (about 6) and teen ages (about 12) are less likely to be the beginning of age appropriate style style changes.






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Created: 8:39 PM 8/29/2004
Last updated: 8:39 PM 8/29/2004