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Younger boys still wore dresses in 1908, although the convention was declining in popularity. Ladies Home Journal offered children's dress patterns for mothers. The Journal offered several dresses for "little tots", meaning both boys and girls could wear them. One dress was specifically for a boy, although the ad copy explains that a little girl could also wear it. Of course this is meant to widen the potential market for the pattern.
As the oldest still publishing, most respected women's service magazine in the country, The Ladies' Home Journal has always focused on issues of crucial importance to millions of women. Since its first issue in December 1883. This long history make The Ladies Home Journal and invaluable source of information on American fashion trends. Its covered an incredibly wide range of topics beyond just fashion, from the latest medical research and consumer news to parenting know-how, workplace survival, good skincare, nutrition facts and much, much more. It was The Ladies Home Journal who sucessfully merged the elements and produced the right formula, becoming the top ladies magazine in America. The Ladies' Home Journal both empowered women and applauded their growing power. We also notice patterns offered in the magazine.
Europeans for centuries dressed little children, both boys and girls in the same styles of dresses, often referred to as petticoats. For most of this time, no special clothing existed for childrn, boys or girls. Boys when they were "breeched", were simplly dressed in smaller versions of the knee breeches and other clothes worn by their fathers. Special clothes for children appeared in the late 18th centuty with distinctive styles for boys and girls. Even so, many mothers continued to dress small boys in dresses for more than a century. This fashion also became common in America and persisted well into the 20th century.
Historical Eras
Younger boys still wore dresses in 1908, although the convention was declining in popularity. Ladies Home Journal offered children's dress patterns for mothers. The Journal offered several dresses for "little tots", meaning both boys and girls could wear them. One dress was specifically for a boy, although the ad copy explains that a little girl could also wear it. Of course this is meant to widen the potential market for the pattern. It looks like a very simple A-line frock, rather like a smock. We only have part of the page which we believe was in a 1908 issue of the Journal. As a result we have the text for some of the items and the illustration for others, but both for only a few. Hoefully we will eventually find the whole page.
This was a pattern for younger children, described as "tots". The ad copy read, "Here is a dress for a little tot that is simplicity itself. It is easy to make and to launder and will be as comfortable as it is pretty. One of the figured prints, plain-colored ginghams or chambrays would be suitable for it worn with a collarand underskleeves of white lawn; or for warm weather they may be omitted altogether. Pattern for this dress (No. 3287), closed in the back, slightly gathered at the neck, and with gathered sleeve-caps, come in four sizes" 2 to 8 years. Size 6 requires three yards and a half of 24-inch material without nap. Price 10 cents." This dress was apparently not illustrated. The term "tot" suggets both boys and girls as girls are not specified. If this is the case, by 1908 it would have been presumably been only younger pre-school boys that may have worn it. We are nor sure what was meant by "sleeve-caps. We think it may be the sleeve cuffs.
This was a coat and it is illustrated. For some reason the illustration shows it being won with a baby bonnet. The very youngest children might have worn a bonnet, but not the older children in the size range. The ad copy read, "Pongee or linen in white or tn would be suitable for this little coat. Use linnen braid--or silk on a pongee coat--to trim the cuffs, sleeve-caps, and collars, or make them of embroidery. Pattern for this full-length coat (No. 3813), to be made with or without the sleeve-caps, come in six sizes: 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 years. Size 4 years requires 4 yards of 27 inch material without nap. Price 10 cents." There is no gender suitability indicated. Note the illustration shows strap shoes and white ankle socks.
This dress was specifically for a boy. Notice the suggestion of blue trim. The ad copy explains that a little girl could also wear it. Of course this is meant to widen the potential market for the pattern. It looks like a very simple A-line frock, rather like a smock or tunic. The ad copy read,"Something new in a plaited [probably meaning plated] dress for a littleman, which may be worn by a girl quite as well. A figured print or a white linnen iped with blue would be attracive for it. Patterns for this one-piece, plaited dress (No. 3815, closed on the left shoulder and side front, come in four sizes: 2 to 8 years. Size 4 requires three yards and five-eights of 24-inch material without nap. Price 10 cents." Note the illustration shows strap shoes and white ankle socks.
This was a girl's dress. We do not have the ad copy, but we suspect it was for olders girls, although we are not sure what the age range might be, perhaps something like 8-16. Note that unlike the dresses for youngr children, the illustration shows long stockings, in this case black long stockings.
This was a another child's dress. The ad copy uses the term "tot" again which could be a boy or girl, but we are unsure as to the gender appropriteness. It is not illustrated. The ad copy read, "Morning dress for a little tot which could be made of dark blue flannel for cool days during the spring or summer, or of plain or checked gingham if of wash goods. For the trimming use mohair brid for the flannel and linnen tape, or a piping of color for the ginghams. Patterns for this dress (No. 3832), closed in the back with one-piece sleeves and a wide tuck over the shoulder, under which a shaped section may be arranged, come in three sizes: 2 to 6 years. Size 4 requires three yards and an eighth of 24-inch material without nap. Price 10 cents."
This was a girl's dress, but was done rather like a tunic. We do not have the ad copy, but we suspect it was for olders girls, although we are not sure what the age range might be, perhaps slmething like 8-16. Note that unlike the dresses for youngr children, the illustration shows long stockings, in this case white long stockings.
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