Figure 1.--Here is an illustration of one of the kneepants suit (No. 4215) offered by Sears in 1897. Notice the bowler hat that is pictured with it.
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Figure 1.--Here is an illustration of one of the kneepants suit (No. 4215) offered by Sears in 1897. Notice the bowler hat that is pictured with it. |
Some of the best information about clothing trends is available from clothing catalogs. Clothing merchandizers are a good reflection of popular trends as to succeed finacially, they have to offer the styles and and fashions that consumers demand. Thus an assessment of mast marketers like Sears and Mongromery Wards can offer importnat insignts as to not only what fashions were being worn in specific years, but also thd age of the children and other interesting details like material, color, and detailing.
Sears in 1897 offered quite a range of boys' kneepants suits. Intetrestingly, the fashion of boys wearing kneepants was so widespread, that the advertising copy did not even mention the length of the pants. Younger boys wearing these suits probably would have worn dresses, kilt suits, or Fauntleroy suits before getting a suit like this. Older boys who received one of these suits might have worn sailor suits.
We call your attention to our regular line of children's two-piece and four-piece combination suits. [HBC note: We are not entirely sure just what is meant by a combination suit.] You have but to glance at the prices we name to convince yourself that we are offering prices against which no dealers can compete. Armed with the advantages possessed by no other concern, viz: the largest output of clothing of any firm in existence, selling out clothing directly to the consumer for cash, therby making no bad debts, buying our goods in large quantities from the mills, making them up by the thousands, we are prepared to make you prices that will admit of no argument, no dispute in comparison and we would advise you by all means to get up a club order, ordering three or four, or better still a dozen suits at a time, let us send them to you by express and thus reduce the charges on one suit to but a few cents at the most. [HBC note: HBC was unsure just what kind of Club Sears is talking about here. See below as an explanation.] We are filling a great many club orders, thereby reducing the cost to the purchaser, which is our sole aim. We are anxious for you to cooperate with us with reference to the club order system and by so doing you will own the goods at 25 per cent less than your local dealer can buy in large quantities.
Our first suit, a two piece boy's suit for 65 cents is a swonder. We are offering this suit at 65 cents in competition with suiyts that retail ar from $1.25 to $1.50. They come in ages 4 to 12. In order be sure to state age of boy and say whether large or small for his age. If to be sent by mail, inclose 16 cents extra to pay postage. These suits are made from a very fair quality of satinette [HBC note: satinette or satinet is an inferior type of satin made with cotton rather than silk], a dark gray mixture and good wearing material, lined thrioughout with cotton serge, two pockets to coat, single breasted, round collar. Pants are well made, two pockets, stayed crotch, button holes worked in waistband. [HBC note: HBC is not sure why button holes are worked into the waistband. Vould they be for suspenders?] At 65 cents we challenge any concern in existence to show the equal.
Our $1.05 two-piece boys' suit for boys 4 to 12 years of age. This suit is made of a heavy dark brown satinette, made in exactly the same style as our No. 4213. It is a good weight, well wearing material, coat is lined throughout with a good quality cotton lining, two pockets on coat with flaps on pockets, round collar. Pants are well made, drilling pockets, button holes worked in waistband, two buttons on each side of pants leg at bottom.
Our $1.45 two-piece boys' suit from 4 to 14 years of age. In ordering be sure to state age of boy and and say whether large or small of his age. If you wish suit sent by mail send 80 cents extra to pay postage. Two, three, or even four suits can be sent by express to any address, at a cost of 25 to 30 cents; for that reason we would advise ordering several suits at a time and having them shipped by express and this reduce the express charges. This $1.45 suit is thoroughly well-made two piece suit; good enough for any boy for everyday wear. It is made from an extra quality of dark mixed diagonal goods, a regular wear-resistant garment, lined throughout with a good qwiality of serge liming, good sleeve lining, double breasted as shown in cut, large cllar with large lapels, three pockets to coat, flaps on all pockets, pockets made of good quality of silesia. [HBC note: silesia is a light-weight, smooth finish, twilled cotton fabric, used for linings. It is called silesia because it was once made in Silesia.] Pants are well made throughout, reinforced waistband, button holes worked in same, two side pockets, finish with two buttons on bottom of each pants leg. [HBC note: HBC is unsure why the Sears kneepants only had two ornamental buttons at the bottom of the leg. Three buttons were much more common. Note that the illustration shows three buttons.] These pants are made well stayed in crotch.
Our $1.55 two-piece boys' suit. Sizes from 4 to 14 years of age. In ordering be sure to state age of boy and and say whether large or small for his age. If to be sent by mail, enclose 25 cents extra to pay postage. This suit is made from a good quality dark gray wool cheviot, medium weight, double breasted, square front with rubber buttons, two outside pockerts with flaps, round collar, lapel front, well made button holes, lined throughout with good quality of serge lining and fine stripped sleeve loming. Pants are well made, continuous waist ban, extra well stayed and well finished.
Our $1.70 boys' suit. Made of fine all-wool serge, havong a very genteel appearance, in dark mixed colors. In ordering be sure to state age of boy and and say whether large or small for his age. If to be sent by mail, enclose 25 cents extra to pay postage. This suit is nicely made, finely finished buttonholes and rubber buttons [HBC comment: HBC notes that several Sears' suits had rubber buttons. We ae unsure why rubber was such an attractive material for the buttons.], three outside pockets with flaps. lined with fine black suefe, fine stripped sleeve lining. The pants are extra well made, extra stayed crotch, extgra stitched waistband, two small buttonson the bottom of each leg to match the buttons on the coat.
Our $1.85 boys's two-piece suit. For boys from 4 to 14 years of age. Be sure to state age of boy and and say whether large or small for his age. If to be sent by mail, enclose 25 cents extra to pay postage. We offer you in this a regular $2.50 suit at $1.85. No. 910. Made of a heavy gray mixed cheviot, extra wear resistant material, handsomely made, round collar with wide lapels, finely finished buttonholes, with single front. Three outside pockets with flaps, lined throughout with a good black serge and fine striped sleeve lining. Extra well made pants, felled outside seam, two buttons at bottom of the leg, waistband extra stitched and good button holes, two drilling pockets, bottom hemmed and nicely finished.
Our $2.20 two-piece boys' suit. From 4 to 14 years of age. If to be sent by mail, enclose 25 cents extra to pay postage. No. 1073 Made of a heavy gray cheviot, double breasted, square front, round collar and wide lapels, black rubber buttons, lined throughout with a good quality serge, fine striped sleeve lining, three outside pockets with flaps. Pants are extra well stayed, drilling pockets and handsomely finished. This we consider extra good value and very stylish.
Our $2.55 two-piece boys' suit. For boys from 4 to 14 years of age. Be sure to state age of boy and and say whether large or small for his age. If to be sent by mail, enclose 25 cents extra to pay postage. No. 1071. Made of a very fine, heavy, all wool brown mixed cheviot, double breasted front, round collar, wide lapels, three outside pockets with flaps, extra well made throughout, lined with black serge, fine striped sleeve lining, with buttons to match goods. [HBC note: HBC believes that the last phrase means that the buttons match the color iof the suit fabric.] The pants are extra well stayed and stitched throughout, hansomely well finished with buttions at the bottom of each leg to match coat, waisrband extra well stitched and good buttonholes. This is a very nobby and handsome suit. [HBC note: The use of the term "nobby" several times on this page is interesting. It is mainly a British uage meaning fashionable or elegant. Its use here by Sears probably reflects the important influence that Britain had on men and boys' fashions.]
Our $2.75 boys' two-piece suit from 4 to 14 years of age. Be sure to state age of boy and and say whether large or small of his age. If to be sent by mail, enclose 25 cents extra to pay postage. No. 1040 made of a fine all wool gray mixed cassimere with an indestinct check, double breasted, round collar. wiude lapels. lined with good quality of farmer's satin, handsomely finished bittonholes and rubber buttons, three pocjkets with flaps. The pants are very nicely finished extra well stayed in the crotch, patent waistband with extra elastic loops at the back to prevent the pulling off of the buttons from the waist. One hip pocket and two ide pockets, outside felled seam, each leg finished with three small buttons to match coat. [HBC note: Note that on this expensive suit, the pants have three buttons.] You will find this a very stylish and well-made garment, suitable for the most fastidious.
Our $2.95 boys' two-piece suit for boys from 4 to 14 years of age. Be sure to state age of boy and and say whether large or small of his age. If to be sent by mail, enclose 25 cents extra to pay postage. Made of a select fine checked all wool cassimere, brown and white predominating, double breasted, round collar, wide lapels, brown buttons, lined with a fine brown farmer's satin and extra well finished. The pants are extra well made and finished with a feled outside seam, extra stayed crotch, ne hip and two side pockets. Finihed with three snall buttons to match the coat. Pattent waistband with button holes and extra elastic loops. This is indeed a very fine genteel suit, nice enough to wear to church or any other place.
These suits were offered in sizes frpm 4 to 12-14 years. This suggests that mothers were beginning to breech their sons at 4 years. Some mothers may have delayed to 5 years or even longer. The fact that the suits were offered to sizes 12 to 14 suggests that most boys in this age group were wearing kneepants. Suits for older boys were also made with kneepants, but at least thete was an option for the older boys. With the age group through 12-14 there appears to have been little option to knee pants.
A HBC reader has a reprint of the 1900 Sears catalog. It explains that a "club order" is when several people from the same area would send their orders in at one time, to be
deilvered all at once to the nearest railroad station; this was suggested to save on shipping costs.
