Figure 1.--Here are the four stules of children's Buster dresses offered by Sears in 1907. The use of the term "children" suggests it was suitable for boys and girls. As far as we can tell, these garments are essentially the same as the tunics boys wore, except that they did not have matching bloomer knickers.

Younger boys in the 19th century commonly wore dresses. This practice declined sharply in the very late 19th century and after the turn of the 20th century. We see boys dressed being advertized in the early 1900s, but by mid-decade it became very rare. We do note "children's dresses" being advertized which were marketed as suitable for both boys and girls. This practice continued into the 1910s. An example here is a selection of children's dresses offered by Sears in 1907. They were described as "Children's Buster dresses". As far as we can tell they were essentially tunics, a popular style for boys at the time. The basic difference between the Buster dresses and tunic suits is that the Bustern dresses dis not include the matching bloomer knickers that came with tunic suits. This suggests that the tunic style was appropriate for both boys and girls. We seem to note, however, nore boys wearing the style in the photographic record.

Dresses

Younger boys in the 19th century commonly wore dresses. We see numerous examples of this in the photographic record as well as in catalog advertisements. This practice declined sharply in the very late 19th century and after the turn of the 20th century. We see boys dressed being advertized in the early 1900s, but by mid-decade it became very rare. We do note "children's dresses" being advertized which were marketed as suitable for both boys and girls. This practice continued into the 1910s.

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. Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) in 1895 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 te 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.

Buster Brown

Although now known mostly as a coroprate symbol for a shoe company, Buster Brown was the best known boy character in 20th-Century America. He was also the subject of popular films. Buster was a charmingly mischievous boy, always carefully dressed and with nangs and long blond hair. He was often accompanied by his sister, Mary Jane, as well as his faithful bulldog--Tige. His antics while sometimes naughty were never meam-spirited and always ended with a little motal homily to have a moral influence on the youthful readers of the Sundau comics. Buster gave his name to his trade-mark bangs, collar, and suit. Curiously Mary Jane gave her name to the strap shoes, although both Buster and Mary Jane wore them. The tunic suits Buster wore becase known as Buster Brown suits.

Tunic Suits

Tinic suits were a popular style for boys at the time. Advertizers used various terms such as Russian blouse or bloomer suits. The Buster Brown suit was a tunic suit. Tunic suits seem to have been particularly popular in America. Much of the information in the tunic section is about tunics in America. We know that they were common in the early ans mid-19th century. Quite a number of naive artists painted boy wearing tunics of various descriptions. They seem less common in the late 19th century, but we see them being very commonly worn at the turn of the 20th century. They were very widely worn in America at this time. Three styles were generally worn, but there were other styles as well. The sailor style was the most popular, but the Russian blouse and Buster Brown styles were also popular. These tunic were mostly worn with above-the-knee knickers and short pants. A related style, the Russian blouse suit was occasionally worn with long pants--mostly in the long pants variant. Very commonly the tunics were white or some other solid color. We are not sure about the colors at this time. We also see tunics made in patterns, but they were not nearlu as common. Some information is available on individual boys.

Buster Dress Styles

An example here is a selection of children's dresses offered by Sears in 1907. They were described as "Children's Buster dresses". This is not a commonly used term. As far as we know it was promotional term used by Sears to play on the popularity of Bustern Brown. As far as we can tell they were essentially tunics. The basic difference between the Buster dresses and tunic suits is that the Bustern dresses dis not include the matching bloomer knickers that came with tunic suits. This suggests that the tunic style was appropriate for both boys and girls. The color choices also suggest they were worn by both boys and girls. We seem to note, however, more boys wearing the style in the photographic record. The sizes offered were chikdren 2-5 yeara, meaning pre-school children.

Analysis

The Buster dress page provides some very useful information as well as raising some iteresting question. The most interesting aspect is the use of the term "children's" dress. We note boy dresses being offered in the early 1900s, but by about 1905 we no longer see the term. Some younger boy's still were dresses, but we think they were purchased as children's dresses like the ad here. Another interesting aspect is the colors offered. Some were offered in blue or pink. Because these dresses were for boys and girls, modern readers might assume that this was a blue dress for boys and a pink dress for girls. Here we are not certain. As far as we can tell, the gender color conventions were not yet strongly established. Perhaps these were just popular colors. Here we are not yet sure. Also note the 3 for price. Did mothers really by three of the same outfit for a child? Or perhaps this is a reflection of the larger family sizes at the time. As a child's garment, it could be used for both boys and girls in the family.

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Created: 5:32 PM 12/14/2006
Last updated: 5:32 PM 12/14/2006