Figure 1.--Here is an interesting type of shirt advertised for boys in 1903. The term "waists" in "shirt waists" refers to the attachments for fastening knee trousers. Note that this shoirt waist had an attached collar and no tails. This ad was run in the Galveston Daily News (page 11) by a clothing store at 24th and Mechanic Streets called F. E. Mistrot. A reader writes, "A useful image. The mechanics of this particular garment are clearly shown. Thos is often not the case in these illustrations.

We note a range of blouses and waists (commonly called shirt waists) for boys. A blouse was a shirt without tails, essentially the moderrn meaning without the gender connotations. Waists/shirt waists were genberally shirts without collars althoughas we can see here, the term was variable. We do not commonly see advertisements foir shirts. Some were made with large collars and sailor-like back flaps. Others were made with smaller pointed collars. Both blouses and waists were made without shirt tails. The difference between blouses and waists is not clearly defined. Blouses are usually for younger boys and done in a variety of juvenile styles. Blouses might butoon on to the waist band, but some blouced over the waist. Waists were usually done in more mature styles. They always buttoned on to the pants (trousers) at the waist.

Store Ad: Shirt Waists

Here is an interesting type of shirt advertised for boys in 1903. The term "waists" in "shirt waists" refers to the attachments for fastening knee trousers. No age is given, but from other ads in the same vicinity, I think these shirt waists were for boys from about 6 to 12. Buttoning knee trousers to hold them in place was an alternative to elastic suspenders or to buttoning trousers onto underwaists. The ad reads: "Boys' Shirt Waist, made with patent belt, fashionable spring patterns. 50 cents". The belt is made so that the shirt can open to be put on and then buttoned again through the fabric so that the buttons around the waist are exposed, thus allowing trousers with button-holes around the waistline to be fastened in place. I believe these were mainly for boys ten years old or younger but that some boys up to 12 years buttoned on their knee trousers. This shirt would take the place of an underwaist for supporting trousers, but boys would still need a skeleton waist or underwaist for holding garter pins for hose supporters because almost all boys wore black long stockings in 1903. This ad was run in the Galveston Daily News (page 11) by a clothing store at 24th and Mechanic Streets called F. E. Mistrot. Notice the striping of the shirt waist. There were apparently other patterns. The ad seems to be selling boys' clothing for Easter.

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Created: 5:52 PM 6/15/2009
Last updated: 10:30 PM 6/15/2009