Figure 1.-- Here is one of the Best pages. The heading stressed that they were hand made. I'm not sure just how that differed from the normal process of making dresses. I think the hand made reference may refer to the smocking and embroidering. These dresses look mostly white or light colors with some prints. They were for young children, age 1-3 years. Most were for girls, but some are identified as suitable for boys.

Here is one of the Best pages. The heading stressed that they were hand made. I'm not sure just how that differed from the normal process of making dresses. I think the hand made reference may refer to the smocking and embroidering. These dresses look mostly white or light colors with some prints. They were for young children, age 1-3 years. Most were for girls, but some are identified as suitable for boys. Here the ad copy suggests that some styles are boying. We do not think that would attract mothers were daughters. We believe that this mean that the dress was suitable for a boy. Here the context is that both boys and girls could wear them. This is suggested both by the text and the illustrations showing both boy and girl models.

W-530

We thought that this dress might be a boy dress, but the adcopy does not offer much clue. We do note that the trim could be had in blue or pink. Also the box pleats seem to have been seen as suitavle for boys. The ad copy read, "A NEW ADAPTATIOMN of box pleats.The yoke front is simply achieved by shirrings feaherstiched with pink or blue. Beading and lace. Deep hem. 1 to 3 years ... $2.85.

W-534

Here is one of the boy dresses. The Best ad copy read, "AS BOYISH as straight tucks and straight box-pleats of lawn and a simple little collar and two rows of buttons can make it. Deep hem. 1 to 3 years ... $4.25."

W-537

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"

W-538

This is one of the other boy dresses. Here Best clearly states that the dress is a dress that boys and girls could wear. The ad copy read, "ANOTHER DRESS SUITABLE FOR A BOY as well as a girl is this box-pleatd and tucked style of fine lawn. High-belted waist and conventional arangements of embroidered sprays. 1 to 3 years ... $5.00"

W-539

Some of the dress are clearly just for girls. The ad copy read, "GRACEFUL AS A FAIRY is this Empire frock with cording at waste and neck, its lace and fly away sash set on at the waste line just back of the embroidered sides. 1 to 3 years ... $5.25

W-540

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. 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."

W-541

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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Created: 6:29 AM 2/5/2006
Last updated: 6:29 AM 2/5/2006