Figure 1.-- Here we have an ad for boys' and girls underwaists by Nazareth from the Ladies Home Journal, 1919 (July, 1919, p. 61).

Here we have an ad for boys' and girls underwaists by Nazareth from the Ladies Home Journal, 1919 (July, 1919, p. 61). Curiously we have a later version of this ad already (see 1927 ad below), but this one, although it reprints the same image, has no descriptive text, so the earlier version is important. We notice the Nazaretyh Waist Company active in the 1920s. We do not know when they were founded and how long they operated. The company had offices in New York City and mills in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Underwaists were another type of support garment. Underwaists (sometimes called panty-waists) were worn by younger boys and girls to support additional underwear (such as bloomers or panties) or outer clothing (such as trousers or skirts). These bodices tended to be worn by boys only until about age 10, although some models came in ages for boys as old as 12.

Nazereth Waist Company

We notice the Nazaretyh Waist Company active in the 1920s. We do not know when they were founded and how long they operated. The company had offices in New York City and mills in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. We notice waist suits they offered. We do not know if they offered any other items. This style of waist became almost universal in America for girls and younger boys. Notice the reinforcing straps over the shoulders with buttons for trousers, skirts, bloomers, and outer clothing--also the additional straps that run from the shoulder to the sides under the armpits with buttons (or pin tubes) for the attachment of hose supporters.

Ladies Home Journal

Here we have an for boys' and girls underwaists by Nazareth from the Ladies Home Journal, 1919 (July, 1919, p. 61). 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.

Underwaists

Underwaists were another type of support garment. Underwaists (sometimes called panty-waists) were worn by younger boys and girls to support additional underwear (such as bloomers or panties) or outer clothing (such as trousers or skirts). These bodices tended to be worn by boys only until about age 10, although some models came in ages for boys as old as 12. Some models were specifically for girls and others for boys, but the great majority of styles could be worn by both boys and girls. They tended to be made of elastic knitted fabric (and therefore rather form-fitting) or of cambric material and a bit looser. They nearly always were equipped with reinforcement straps, waist buttons, and garter tabs for attaching hose supporters. The popularity of underwaists declined in the later 1930s and early 1940s although they were still available, usually in the preferred knitted style, up until about 1945. When long stockings stopped being worn by school children, the main function of the underwaist ceased to exist.

Ad Copy

Curiously we have a later version of this ad already (see 1927 ad below), but this one, although it reprints the same image, has no descriptive text, so the earlier version is important. Here is the ad copy, "Made in U.S.A. Quality Underwear For Boys and Girls. Nazareth Waist. A warm-weather warning to mothers--keep the children cool and comfortable--guard against summer colds. The Nazaeth Waist worn next to the skin, absorbs perspiration--evaporates it and keeps the body dry and cool. The soft-knit, elastic fabric is non-irritating. Buttons down the front. Knitted suspender tapes support outer garments from the shoulder. The favorite knit-waist for 32 years. Sizes 1 to 13 years. Have your dealer show you a Nazareth Waist Union Suit, knee length, no sleeves--shirt, pants and waist in one garment, suspender tapes, too. If your dealer hasn't got them, write us. Nazareth Waist Co., Dept 2, 349 Broadway, New York. Mill at Nazareth, Pa."

Usage

This style of waist became almost universal in America for girls and younger boys. Notice the reinforcing straps over the shoulders with buttons for trousers, skirts, bloomers, and outer clothing--also the additional straps that run from the shoulder to the sides under the armpits with buttons (or pin tubes) for the attachment of hose supporters. One of the features of this waist which HBC has not noted previously is that it is a summer version of the usual underwaist to be worn next to the skin and not (as in winter) on top of additional underwear.

Purpose

Children needed support garments for trousers, skirts, and long stockings even during the hotter months, and this style of knitted waist avoided the necessity of an undershirt or additional layer of underwear hich would have been usual in the colder months.

Gender

Although this waist was unisex in style--designed for both boys and girls (note the front opening), boys older than ten hated underwaists/pantywaists because of their feminine connotations and wanted to switch to suspender waists such as the Kazoo suspender waist, advertised in Ladies Home Journal the same year (1919).

Other Nazareth Ads

Nazereth extesively advertized in product line, including its waists in early 20th century magazines.

Nazareth Waist (1902)

An earlier version of the Nazareth Waist was advertised by Sears in 1902.

Nazareth underwaist (1927)

A later version of the 1919 ad appeared in 1927 but without any descriptive text.

Nazareth waist union suit

The 1919 ad also refers to "the Nazareth Waist Union Suit, knee length, no sleeves"--equally suitable for summer wear and also involving only one layer of underwear because the garment combined the functions of a union suit and an underwaist. HBC has archived a winter version of the Nazareth Waist Union Suits advertised in 1927.

E-Z Waists

The competing firm that also made waist union suits during the same period was the E-Z Waist Company, whose garments were manufactured in Bennington, Vermont. The Ladies Home Journal for the year 1919 also advertised the E-Z Waist Suits in at least two different issues. These ads are useful because they show the hose supporters already attached to waist buttons placed at the end of the reinforcing straps under the armpits.

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]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

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

Created: 7:18 PM 7/24/2005
Last updated: 7:18 PM 7/24/2005