Figure 1.--Best & Co offered a wide range of summer lawn dresses for younger children. Most were for girls, but the liiustrations and ad copy suggested that some were suitable for boys as well. This is one of the last advertisements we have found offering boy dresses. |
This was one of the dresses suitable for boys. The ad copy read, "HAND-EMBROIDERY DOES NOT necessarily mean a fancy dress! Note how plain and boyish this dress of fine lawn with straight tucks and conventional embroidery is made to be! 1 to 3 years ... $4.95" A reader writes, "Eventhough this dress is described as 'boyish', it looks more girlish to me than many of the other dresses." A reader writes, "Notice dress 540 and 537 are both very boyish and 540 shows a bloomer dress for boys. I see almost no difference between dress 536 and 537 except for the collar. There is another image of a boy in a Russian tunic dress with very
fancy pantelettes.
Here we are not sure about the gender suitability, but as the garment is rather styled like a smock and the term "Russian dress" is used. Also note the blue and pink option. We think that this item also could be worn by a boy. Note that the illustration shows the bloomer pants that were worn with the dress. The ad copy read, "RUSSIAN DRESS of quaint effect. Snocking and scallops of pink or blue. Two sets of wide pleats in the back. Deep hem. 1 to 3 years ... $4.75., Bloomers $1.35 extra."
We think this dress was for girls. Both the design and use of flowers are indictors here, although we note they are done in pink or blue. The ad copy read, "THE CHARMING effect of color is apparent here, Dainty colored daisies (pink or blue) smocking in the same shade light up like sunshine this dainty lawn dress. Fince scalloping and featherstitching at neck. 1 to 3 years ... $ $5.75."
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