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The standard winter underwear worn by boys in 1922 was the union suit. This union suit was advertised in Good Housekeeping Magazine by Hanes, one of the principal makers of
men and boys' union suits. These union suits were made to fit boys from 2 years old to 16 years old. The model here has long sleeves and long legs, but such suits were also made with short sleeves and knee length legs. The suits for the youngest boys (from 2 to 4 years) were made
with three-button drop seats, whereas the suits for the older boys (from 6 6o 16) had the more adult style of a flap seat closed with a single button. They came in two different weights--medium and extra heavy--to suit boys who lived in colder and less chilly parts of the
country. But in 1922, before many homes had central heating, nearly all boys wore union suits during the autumn, winter, and early spring.
This union suit was advertised in Good Housekeeping Magazine by Hanes. Good Housekeeping first appeared May 2, 1885. It was one of of several popular women's magazines established suring the 1880s and 1890s. The magazine provided information about running a home and raising children. This the modern Good Housekeeping conytinues today. The Good Housekeeping seal of approval was developed to assure housewives of a product's value. Letters from readers were an important facet. The early magazine, however, also included a broad range of literary offerings. Good Housekeeping was founded by journalist-businessman Clark W. Bryan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The magazine moved to Springfield, but by 1911 the circulation was only 0.3 million. This changed when it was purchased by the William Randolph Hearst and moved to New York. The citculation was soon in the millions of copies. Many well known writers have contributed to Good Housekeeping, including Somerset Maugham, Edwin Markham, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Frances Parkinson Keyes, and Evelyn Waugh. Following the death of President Calvin Coolidge his widow, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, memorialized him in its pages. In an efforts to stay close to its audience, Good Housekeeping accepts articles by ordinary readers who are not professional writers. No one individual is more associated with Good Housekeeping than famed American children's illustrator Jesie Wilcox Smith. Over two decades, Good Housekeeping brought her work into millions of Americans homes every month (1917-33). In all she did more than 200 covers for the magazine.
The P.H. Hanes Knitting Company was one of the principal makers of men and boys' union suits. The Hanes Knitting Company was located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but the Hanes brand was widely advertised all over America and sold in most local shops and department stores. We are unsure when the company was founded, but we note magazine adverts in the 1920s and 30s. The 1922 ad here is one of the earliest we have noted. The principal underwear companies in America are today Haines and Fruit of the Loom. Hanes has been given considerable visibility as a result of television ads featuring basketball star Michael Jordan.
The standard winter underwear worn by boys in 1922 was the union suit. The union suit is a close-fitting underwear garment. The term union refers to the fact that a union suit involves the combination of both a shirt and pants (drawers) in a one piece suit. The garment commonly included a drop seat. This term began to be used in the 1890s. The term union suit was commonly used for adults. The children's version was a waist suit or a waist-union suit. Women also wore union suits. So did girls. But they were associated mainly with men because more men than women wore them. With boys and girls, I'm not sure. I think waist union suits were equally popular for boys and girls because of the waist feature. Union suits for children were essentially combination suits. But union suits without the reinforcement straps were mainly a boy's garment.
The Hanes union suits here were made to fit boys from 2 years old to 16 years old. The model here has long sleeves and long legs, but such suits were also made with short sleeves and knee length legs. The suits for the youngest boys (from 2 to 4 years) were made
with three-button drop seats, whereas the suits for the older boys (from 6 6o 16) had the more adult style of a flap seat closed with a single button. They came in two different weights--medium and extra heavy--to suit boys who lived in colder and less chilly parts of the
country. But in 1922, before many homes had central heating, nearly all boys wore union suits during the autumn, winter, and early spring.
Most boys in the United States 15 years of age or younger wore knee pants (or shorts) or knickers in the early 1920s with knee socks or long stockings, so long underwear was often worn underneath stockings. The popularity of short leg union suits in part reflects seasonal preferences so hosiery and long union suits did not have to be woirn together.
Hanes also made "waist union suits" (not shown or mentioned here) with taped shoulders, waist
buttons, and tabs for hose supporters so that a separate underwaist or
garter waist would not be necessary.
Boys wearing long stockings would have needed garters. The union suits advertised
here are made exactly like the adult union suits worn by men and have no provision for attaching garters. Boys who wore these suits would therefore need an additional garter waist or underwaist for the support of stockings.
The ad copy reads, " Read Hanes Guarantee! We gurantee Hanes Underwear absolutely--every
thread, stitch and button. We guarantee to return your money or give
you a new garment if any seam breaks.
Hanes Big Features
1. Hanes Tailored collarette won't gap or roll.
2. Staunch Elastic Shoulders made with service-doubling lap seam.
3. Hanes Closed Crotch is made to stay closed.
You Can't Afford to Overlook these Staunch Hanes Unions for Boys.
There have been tremendous reductions in Hanes prices.
Take advantage of them--now. Give your youngster the protection given
by the heavy Hanes Elastic Knit Boy's Union Suit that holds its staunch
body through wash and wear. Hanes Union suits for Boys are an
outstanding example of real econcomy.
Made in two weights--medium and extra heavy. Also knee length and
short sleeves. Every feature and every stitch guaranteed. Buy now at
the lowest prices in years. If your dealer can't supply you write us.
Hanes for Men--Full of value just like the boys' union suits. Every
garment guaranteed. Heavyweight union suits and shirts and drawers and
medium-weight, silk-trimmed union suits.
P. H. Hanes Knitting Company, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Hanes Trade Mark Elastic Knit Underwear. Sizes 2 to 16 years. Two to 4
year sizes have drop seat.
Next summer you'll want him to wear Hanes Nainsook Union Suits! [i.e.,
the summer model made of nainsook material with short legs and no
sleeves]."
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