Figure 1.--Here we see our neighbor's little boy about 1947. Notice the big bow knot om the classic white barboteuse that he is wearing, My parents took quite a few snapshots of me, but always from the front so you can't see the bow knot. The little boy is also a HBC reader. He writes, "In this snap shot, one sees the big bow at the romper back. I was cuting a rose, may be for my Mother or Grandmother. This photo is from 1947, I think. One had just shorter a bit my hairs for make several modern fashion images."

On an previous page I am dressed with a dressy white romper at age 5 years. It is a classic French barboteuse. I was the petit garçon modèle to my mum. The classic white romper was worn for special outings such as to church. But white rompers were also worn during the week. Light blue was another popular color for romper suits. I think mine were mostly white, at least the batboteuse romper suits. I wore several romper suits in different styles and material. There were the classic barboteuse rompers which were one-piece romper suits with little puffed sleeces. In addition I had the Barboteuse bain de soleil, These were sun suit rompers that could be worth with or without a blouse. They had a bib and straps that buttoned to the waist. Sometimes they had two little pockets. The bain de soleil rompers were done it colors. The rompers also buttoned at the crotch. All the rompers in small sized did so. I'm less sure about the ones I wore when I was 5 years old.

Classic Barboteuse

After World War II, the most common romper outfit was the one piece model, often in white. On an previous page I am dressed with a dressy white romper at age 5 years. It is a classic French barboteuse.These rompers had little Peter Pan collars, puffed sleeves, smocking or hand embroidery. There was a waist strap tied in a big knot at the back. Thet buttonned at the croch because these rompers were slip on by the head, never by the legs. They also could be in light-blue or yellow. Play rompers were often done in Vichy (gingham). There were also formal rompers for dressy occasions. They might be done in silk. Sky-blue was a popular color. I was the petit garçon modèle to my mum. The classic white romper was worn for special outings such as to church. But white rompers were also worn during the week. Light blue was another popular color for romper suits. I think mine were mostly white, at least the batboteuse romper suits. I wore several romper suits in different styles and material. There were the classic barboteuse rompers which were one-piece romper suits with little puffed sleeces.

Winter Barboteuse

There were also winter rompers. These were commonly knitted by grandmothers or aunts. They had long sleeves, but like regular rompers had puffed and short pants. As the child's legs were still bare, mothers might add wool knee socks, a matching waistcoat or a short coat named " manteau baby " to keep the child warm. The French word "baby" means baby-style or more commonly toddler-style. It was apparently adopted from English as foreign words carry a fashion cachet. The actual word for a baby in French is " bébé ".

Barboteuse Bain de Soleil

In addition I had the Barboteuse bain de soleil, These were sun suit rompers that could be worth with or without a blouse. They were obciously worn durung the summer sio the child could get as much sun as possibe. And of course without a shirt they were cinfortable to wear in hot weather. They had a bib and straps that buttoned to the waist. Sometimes they had two little pockets. The bain de soleil rompers were done it colors. The rompers also buttoned at the crotch. All the rompers in small sized did so. I'm less sure about the ones I wore when I was 5 years old.

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Counter set: 1:17 AM 12/25/2009
Last updated: 1:17 AM 12/25/2009