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Boys very commonly wore sits in 1919. We note both single and double-breasted suits. Norfolk styling was very popular. American boys by 1919 were mostly wearing knicker suits. Some mostly younger boys were still wearing kneepants. Some boys also wore kneepants for formal outfits. Kneepants were a style which continued for a few more years, but knickers were much more common. We do not yet notice short pants suits as had begun to be worn in Europe. American boys primarily wore knicker suits. They were pictured as being buttoned just at the knee. Most had belted waists. We see long pants suits, but knicker suits were much more common. We do not note short pants suits.
The Sears catalog in 1919 offered a selection of blue serge knickers suits in different styles. Sears used the term knickerbockers. Blue serge or flannel were especially popular for American boys. They were pictured as being buttoned just below the knee and worn with dark kong stockings. They were suits with different age ranges, but their suits made for boys 6-18 years of age. Some have slight Norfolk styling. Thev boys are all pictured wearing flst caps.
Here is another interesting advertisement from Good Housekeeping Magazine, November 1919 (p. 82). The main appeal is for "Boyville" suits. "Boyville" was a Sears brand name. But the ad is for an entire schoolboy's outfit, including pants (above-the-knee knickers), a cap, stockings, shoes, and blouse (or shirt). The sizes involved are from 7 to 18 years. There was no long pants option, even for the larger size suits. One interesting detail is the construction of the "Boyville Blouse" offered (for boys from 6 to 15); this blouse is cut straight across at the bottom (it has no shirt tails) and appears to have two little loops at the hem, presumably to fasten to trousers or underwear waist buttons. Overall,
this advertisement is a good index to the standard elements of a schoolboy's dress in 1919. The suit jacket can be worn with or without a belt. There is only one choice of stocking color--black. The shoes are hightop.
Here is an advertisement for Dubbelbilt Boy's clothes that appeared in The Ladies Home Journal (April 1919) p. 169. There is a great deal of specificity about the details and features of the clothing offered. Dubbelbilt appears to have appealed mainly to the requirement that boys' clothes be sturdily built (hence the brandname, Dubbelbilt) and also to the need for economic pricing. The firm, in addition to its regular price line, had a "special Economy Grade" of boys' suits. The
age range is from 6 to 18 years. Interestingly, suits for this age group entirely exclude long trousers, offering only "knickers".
Boys wore both jackets and overcoats in 1919. A long overcoat was common for middle-class boys wearing suits. Jackets were worn more casually. We note suits and coats being offered by Bauman Clothing in 1919. The company does not, however, provide much detail on the suits and overcoats. The focus here is on the brand.
Here is an interesting advertisement from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was placed in the Evening
Gazette (April 16, 1919). The ad was placed by the Syndicate Boy's Store. We have no details about the store. It advertises a complete Easter outfit for boys including stockings, waist, underwear, raincoat, dress knickers suit, top coat, and headwear (of course a stylish flat cap). We notice that at the time both stores and mail order catalogs would offer complete outfits like this. The store also offered Confirmation suits.
We note a Crompton-Richmond adverisement for corduroy knickers suits, we think in the Ladies Home Journal. The ad emphasized the hard-wearing durable characteristics of corduroy. Boiys are shown after school, still in their school shirts playing marbles. The Crompton Mill was built in 1807. The Crompton Mill was a substantial granite building. It is notable as the first mill to produce both velvet and corduroy in the United States, althoough we are not sure whe production began. As a result, Crompton for a time was called the Velvet Village. Crompton is located in West Warwick. The Crompton Mill was awarded a golden medal at the Pan American Expedition in Buffalo, New York for making the best velvet and corduroy (1901).
We note Right Posture boy's clothes adveretised in the Ladies Home Journal in 1919. The advertisement shows an overcoat and knickers suit. The ad tells motherf reads, "Some boys' clothing HAS style--but 'Right Posture' IS style." The company does not tell us just what the posture features were. The ad copy reads, "Even without the exclusive 'Right-Posture' Feature,your boy would still preferthese clothes for theur smart cut, trim fit and snooth drape. Right-Posture boys' clothes improve the way a well-cut garment fits by tending to improve rhe way a boy stands--easily and erectly, with poise and pride. Long-lasting fabrics and stiched to-stay needkework--latest style with greatest sturdiness."
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