Boys Blouses: Sears 1897 Catalogs


Figure 1.--.

The 1897 Sears catalog provies information on boys blouses or shirt waists for boys from 4 to 14. Some styles were available from 4 to 14, but fancier styles only from 4-8 or 4-12. A few of the fancier blouses were made in size three also, presumably because they could be worn with skirt or kilt outfits before the boy was breeched. Sears offers both plain and fancy Fauntleroy styles in white and a variety of colors. The black an white photographs of the day suggest that most blouses were white. It is interesting to note here that a wide variety of colore blouses were available--including pink ones. Note that in the Sears text, the term "waist and "blouse" are used interchangeably. One interesting obsetrvation, many of the fancier blouse styles are cheaper than tyhe plainer styles. One would expect the famcier styles which take more work to produce would have been the most expensive.

Boys' Waists and Blouses

Sizes 4 to 14 years. All new spring and summer patterns.

No. 21485

Boys' medium color fancy figure shirt waists, pleated front and back with large collar. Small neat figure patterns. Sizes 4 to 14 years. Prices each ... $0.20. # for ... .55.

No. 21466

Boys' extra quality dark colored fancy percale shirt waists, neat handsome patterns front an back with large collar. Sizes 4 to 14: assorted colors.

No. 21467

Boy's extra quality indigo blue shirt waists with neat white figured designs. Pleated front and back and large collar. Size 4 to 14 years. Extra well made and finished. Price each .... $0.80. Three for .... .78.


Figure 2.--.

Boys' Laundered Waists

Sizes 4 to 13 years. A hansome tie with each one. [HBC note: While the term "tie" is use, but in the accopanying images, only bows are depicted. Apparently "ties" are use to escribe bow.

No. 21468

Boys' extra fine laundere percale shirt waists, pleated front and back with large collar an removable buttons, assorted light and medium colors in handsome and stylish patterns, thoroughly well made and dependable. We give a handsome sateen windsor tie with each one of these waists. Sizes 4 to 13 years. Price, each ....$0.50. Three for $1.40.

No. 21469

Boys' laundered shirt waists. same as above in handsome cadet blue and white mixtures. We make you a present of a handsome Windsor tie with each of these waists. Each ....$0.50. 3 for .....$1.40.

Plain White Laundered Waists

Sizes 4 to 12 only.

No. 21470

Boys' extra fine white laundere shirt waists, with fine pleated front and pleate back. Fine white pearl buttons, large collar and finely finished cuffs. Exceptionally well made and finishe. Warranted high grade in every respect. A hanndsome Windsor tie with each one. Prices each ....$0.75.


Figure 3.--.

Boys' Blouse Waists

Sizes 4 to 12 years. Every one a great bargain. New an handsome patterns; nobby effects and ricvh collorings, you cannot afford to overlook them.

No. 21471

Boys' extra qualityfast colored percale blouse, with large ruffled sailor collar, ruffle front and cuffs. Assorted colors an patterns; pinks, blues, etc. [HBC note: Note that in 1897, both pink and blue were acceptable for boys. This suggests that modern color conventions were not yet established.] All combinatiion colors. Sizes 4 to 12 years. Price each ... $0.43. Three for ..... 1.20.

Boys' White Lawn Blouse Waists

Sizes 3 to 8 years only.

No. 21472

Boys' fine white lawn waist with large ruffled and embroidered front and cuffs to match. Sizes 4 to 8 years, no larger. A rare bargain at the price we offer it. Price, each .... $0.58. Three for ...$1.60.

No. 21473

Boys' extra quality white lawn blouse waists with large square ruffle sailor collar, double ruffle front and deep ruffle cuffs, all handsomely embroidered to match. Finely made and finely finished. Sure to please in every way. Sizes 3 to 8 years only. Always give size when you orer. Price, each, 75¢. Three for $2.15.


Figure 4.--This blouse looks similar to one in a portrait of an American boy in a Fauntleroy suit, only he has eyelet lace added ton the ruffles. Click on the image to view the photograph.

No. 21474. The Little Prince

Made from extremely white French lawn, with large square sailor collar, ruffled and embroidered all around with rich open work loop edgeing. Double ruffle front an cuffs all embroidered to match. All pure white. Retail merchants never sell garments like these for less than $1.50. Sizes, 3 to 8 years. Our price, each ... $0.98. Three for ...$2.85.

No. 21475. A 50¢ Wonder

This is a blouse that will please any mother in looks, fit and swearing qualities. The style and pattern is superb.Made from extra quality indigo ??? French percale, with random white stripes, forming a handsome and very swell contrast. Made with full ruffled sailor collar. Double ruffled front and ruffled cuffs. A blouse of this sort and quality has never before been sold for less than 75¢. It is the nobbiest (?), swellest looking and most becoming blouse made this season. You cannot help but like it. Made in sizes from 4 to 12 years only. [HBC note: This wording suggests that Sears had received at least some orders for this style from mothers with older boys.] Price, each ....$0.50.

No. 21476. Our 50¢. Black Sateen Blouse

If you are looking for something thoroughly well made and dependable in a black sateen blouse you will find this number interesting. [HBC note: HBC assumes that "sateen" as spelled by Sears means satin.] This blouse is made from an estra heavy absolutely fast black sateen fine soft twilled finish, with very large full ruffled sailor collar, double ruffled front, and ruffled cuffs. Extra well made and finely finished throughout. Full of the kind of goodness that counts. The best blouse ever made for every day wear. [HBC note: We are rather confused here. Surely this not a style fior everyday wear. Yet the price is vet low.] Don't overlook it if you want something extra good. Size 4 to 12 years. Price each .... $0.50.


Figure 5.--.

No. 21477. Handsome Blouse and Windsor Tie

Our 50¢ combimation. Boy's extra fine fast colored French percale blouse. Handsome dark blue and white stripes; also fancy figures; light and dark colors in new and beautiful shades and nobby and dressy patterns. Blues, pinks, tans, garnet etc. Made with large full ruffled front and cuffs. we h\give a handsome windor tie with each one of these garments in light, medium, or dark colors as desired. Sizes 4 to 12 years. Price, each ...$0.50. 3 for .... 1.40.

No. 21478. 79¢ for a Real Chelsea Cloth Blouse

Boy's extra high grade blouse: made from finest Chelsea cloth, a new fabric similar to fine French penang but heavier and closer wovenand has very fine, soft, smooth finish. Made in beautiful light Cadet blue with neat white and black figures. Entirely new and stylish patterns . Made up in the very finest smartest manner with large deep ruffled collar, double ruffled front, an deep ruffle cuffs. Sizes 4 to 12. Price each ....$79. 3 for ... 2.25.











Figure 6.--This appears to be the black sateen blouse (No. 21476). Seasrs di not number their illustrations very well. This is described as suitable for every day wear.

Christopher Wagner




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Created: March 24, 2001
Last updated: March 24, 2001