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The Ladies Home Journal in 1916 had an advertisement for Kazoo Suspender Waists. The advertisement stressed the fact that they were both for boys and girls. The ad copy read, "Mothers have found from experience that the Kazoo is a most satisfactory combined Suspender Waist and Hose Supporter for girls as well as for boys. It assures comfort ..." The Kazoo Suspender Waist was made by the Harris Suspender Co., New York. The purpose of a suspender waist was to hold up long stockings.
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.
The Kazoo Suspender Waist was made by the Harris Suspender Co., New York. The purpose of a suspender waist was to hold up long stockings. We are unsure where the idea for the Kazoo brand name came from. A kazoo is a type child's mouth organ, but were are not sure if it came before or after the Kazoo suspender waist brand. An example is a Kazoo suspender waist 1916 advertisement. The corporate history of the Harris Suspender Co. is complicated. It was founded as the Wire Buckle Suspender Co. consisting of William Silverman, Charles R. Harris, Joseph E. Austrian, and William Freeman in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. in the 1890s.
Suspender waists were a support garment to hold up other garments. So-called “suspender waists” were invented at the turn of the 20th century and were popular mainly with boys who wore knee pants and needed a way of supporting their long stockings—almost always black. Although some models of the suspender waist (such as Kazoo) were manufactured in styles that could be worn also by girls, the main wearers of these waists were boys. They were called “suspender waists” because they combined trousers suspenders with hose supporters and had leather suspender attachments for holding up knee pants in addition to hose supporters for long stockings. The style did not last very long and was most popular during the 1910s. N.B. Suspender waists are not to be confused with the older style of garter waists (such as the Dr. Parker waist) which also had suspender-like straps over the shoulders, a waist belt (sometimes with waist buttons for outer clothing), and hose supporters.
This ad copy in the illustration makes the point about the Kazoo Suspender waist serving not only as a hose supporter but as a "body developer" which helps children maintain "an erect posture". In addition it claims that the suspender waist "holds the shoulders in a comfortable position" (pretty much the same thing, I guess, as a shoulder brace).
The Ladies Home Journal in 1916 had an advertisement for Kazoo Suspender Waists. The advertisement stressed the fact that they were both for boys and girls. The ad was headed, "Suspender Waists for Boys and Girls". The ad copy ad copy read, "Mothers have found from experience that the Kazoo is a most satisfactory combined Suspender Waist and Hose Supporter for girls as well as for boys. It assures comfort and neatness in dress by holding the stockings up and preventing sagging garments. Then, too, the Kazoo gently assists the growing boy to develop broad shoulders and to breath properly as nature intended he should. The Kazoo for girls is designed to assure perfect development of figure at maturity. Try them on your children – see what a big difference it makes in their appearance, comfort and health. Department, clothing, furnishing and notion stores sell the Kazoo at 50¢ a pair. If not at your dealers we will mail on receipt of price. Money back if not satisfied. An instructive booklet on dressing children free for the asking. Harris Suspender Co., Dept. C, 694 Broadway at 4th Street, New York."
The Kazoo suspender waist is made in several different styles to accommodate boys as well as girls and also different ages of boys. Style B is for boys from age 4 to 12. This style is similar to the Dr. Parker garter waist, has shoulder straps, a waist band, waist buttons, and hose supporters which are worn on top of the underwear but under the shirt or dress. Style G
is for girls only and is made for ages 4 to 18. This, I think, has waist buttons for bloomers or panties. Another version of style B is designed for older boys (from 8 to 18). This has suspender straps that are worn on top of a shirt (like adult suspenders) with attachments for trouser buttons sewn inside the waist of the trousers; these trouser attachments are available
in "leather mountings" so that they look more like adult suspenders, because
of course they are visible outside a boy's shirt. But this waist also has hose
supporters which are part of the same strap as the shoulder strap of the suspenders. Carl wears this type of suspender waist in the 1900 Getting Dressed illustrations.
For a clearer picture, see
1920 Kazoo ad.
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