Figure 1.--This English boy, probably in the 1920s, wears a romper suit. He looks to be about 2 years old. The portrait was taken in in Tronbridge, a town south of London..

Rompers in England were mostly worn as play clothes. HBC has little information about English rompers and in fact was not even sure if these outfits are also called rompers in England. An English reader tells us, "In the United Kingdom rompers is the name given to the all in one baby-grow babies are sometimes dressed in. These being a one piece item incorporating arm and legs (including feet) as well as the main body usually fasten using press-studs. I have never seen anyone wear what the unfortunate boys in the French photographs are wearing, although in the late 1950s very young boys would sometimes wear shorts with the same appearance. I can't comment as to whether all in one tops and shorts were available but have never seen them mentioned." We are not sure when they first appeared in England, but we do note then after World War I in the 1920s. A HBC reader remembers during the post-World War II period that he has dim memories of children (younger than 4 years) wearing a combination garment of blouse and knickers, waistless, these were usually smocked across the upper chest, and with elasticated legs, the seat was wide enough to accomodate a nappy.

Chronology

We are not sure when rompers first appeared in England, but we do note then after World War I in the 1920s. They might have appeared erlier, but we do not note them any earlier than the 20s in the photographic record. A HBC reader remembers during the post-World War II period that he has dim memories of children (younger than 4 years) wearing a combination garment of blouse and knickers, waistless, these were usually smocked across the upper chest, and with elasticated legs, the seat was wide enough to accomodate a nappy. Boys may have worn them in the 1950s, but we have very little information. After the 1960s they seem to have been basically an infant outfit.

Teminology

We were not sure if these outfits were also called rompers in England. Our English readers tells us that the term is used. An English reader writes, "In the United Kingdom rompers is the name given to the all in one baby-grow babies are sometimes dressed in. These being a one piece item incorporating arm and legs (including feet) as well as the main body usually fasten using press-studs."

Conventions

As we have so few inages and no catalog information at this time, we have no idea about the conventiins involved. We are not ure if they were a boys' garment as in France or also worn by girls as in America. They do seem to have been a kind of plsy suit. We have not noted the more formal rompers as sometimes seen in France. As far as we can tell, rompers in England were mostly worn as play clothes. HBC has little information about English rompers. An English reader tells us, "I have never seen anyone wear what the unfortunate boys in the French photographs are wearing, although in the late 1950s very young boys would sometimes wear shorts with the same appearance. I can't comment as to whether all in one tops and shorts were available but have never seen them mentioned."

Popularity

Rompers do not appear to have been as popular in England as they were in France and many continental countries. While we have not noted many examples of English boys wearing rompers in the photogrphic record, we do notice a few.