Best Younger Children Summer Wash Suits, 1918


Figure 1.--Best & Co offered a wide range of wash suits for younger boys up to 4 years pf age. We have seen many of these styles made for boys up to age 8 years, but these best suits were mostly for pre-school boys 2-4 years of age.

W-207

Here we have another button-on suit again employing the string tie with tassels. The collar is colored and coordinated with the pants. The panys have the ornamental buttons at the leg hem. The Best ad copy read, "UNRESTRICTED COMFORTABLE PLAY little folks can have in a suit like this. Combining smartness and comfort is the “Best” aim. A white linen-finished cotton blouse with tan-and-white pin check trousers. 2 to 5 years. $3/45."

W-208

This is another tunic suit with a wide ornamental belt. There are contrasting pockets in white. This suit uses the string tie with tassels. Note the use of pink in a boys' garment showing that pink was seen as appropriate for boys at the time, at least for younger boys. The pink is used, however, in pin stripes. We do not see any fully pink garments. The Best ad copy read, "PINK-AND-WHITE STRIPED MADRAS with white collar, cuffs, belt and pocket trimming. 2 to 4 years $2.95. (A) Blue-and-white 2 to 4 year

W-213

Here Best adverises a suit calling it "baby-like". This is not how boy's clothes were normally marketed in America. It looks to be a button-on outfit, but also with shoulder straps like shortalls. The collar is edged with ruffles which is apparently what Best is referring to as "baby-like". The pants had the ornamental buttons at the leg hem. There is also a string tie with tassels. Even though this outfit is descriobed as baby-like, the sizing is the same as for most of the othjer suits. The Best ad copy read, "MOTHERS ARE SURE to choose this little suit just because it is so pretty and baby-like. White poplin blouse blue cotton trousers with embroidered front 2 to 4 years $3.95. (A) As above green cotton trousers. $3.95."










HBC






Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing catalog/magazine pages:
[Return to the Main Best 1918 wash suit page]
[Return to the Main American mail order 1910s catalogs]
[Main photo/publishing page] [Store catalogs] [Fashion magazines]



Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Cloth and textiles] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Topics]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Satellite sites] [Tools]



Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Flat caps] [Sailor hats] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Knickers] [Sailor suits] [Long stockings] [Underwear]



Created: 11:17 PM 2/7/2006
Last updated: 11:17 PM 2/7/2006