Figure 1.--A T. Eaton catalog page offers a wide range of outfits for younger boys in 1900. We note mostly kneepants outfits with middy blouses and fancy blouses. Blouces trimmed with ruffles and lace seem quite popular. There were also Highland kilts and kilt suits which were middy blouses worn with skirted garments. We also note a double breasted jacket. |
Eatons offered quite a list of washing blouses. They varied from the plain to fancy. Some of te fancy ones were quite expensive because of all the trim and frills. One was a middy blouses. They were made up to size 10, but some styles were only made ti size 8 years.
T. Eaton's was a well known Toranto department store. Their catalogs provide a good indication of the styles popular in Canada at the time. This Canadian retailer began publishing mailorder catalogs in 1881, at least that is we begin noticing them. We have catalogs from the 1970s, although we do not know about the company's current status. The 1970s catalgs were full of clothes which look like American styles. Timothy Eaton, founder of the huge all-Canadian department store
chain bearing his name, was an Irish immigrant born on a tennant farm in northern Ireland. He was born in 1834 and followed his brothers to Canada in 1854. His brothers had opened a small dty goods store in St. Marys. Timothy Eaton began his business with a small dry goods business in Toronto during 1869. He built a giant retail store in Ontario’s capital city along with a country-wide mail-order business and a big new branch store in Winnipeg, by the time of his death in 1907. The Winnipeg branch was the first of many branches. Eaton Company business establishments eventually spread all across Canada when Timothy’s family successors extended the Eaton
empire. Timothy masterminded the company during the crucial period of its early development, spanning nearly 40 years. It was Timothy who implemented the concept of the "Department Store", in Canada, a concept which were already flourishing in London, Paris, and New York.
Note terather informal headwear shown with these blouses, even the fancy ones. Note of the boys wear wide-brimmed sailor hats.
We note quite a range of blouses made for boys. By blouses it was meant shirts for boys that did not have tails and were not tucked into the waistband. Eatons mentions "washing blouses", meaning blouses that could be laundered and did not require special cleaning.
The blouses were available in sizes from 3 to 10 years. Most were made in size from 3 to 8 years.
Eatons list quite a number of blouses. Many but not all are depictd in the accompanying illustration. The illustration only shows boys, but some of the blouses were suitable for boys or girls.
The as copy reads, "Light and dark fast color print blouses, assorted patterns, sailor collar, suitable for boys or girls from 3 to 10 years of age ... 25 c." This seems rather a plain style for a girl's blouse, but Eatons maintains that girls could wear it.
The ad copy read, "Light and dark colored assorted pattern blouses, deep sailor collar, neatly frilled, sizes 3 to 10 years ... 35c." Not that even te frilled blouses were made for boys upnto 10 years.
This blouse was apparently cut like 291, but made in more expensive sateen. The ad copy read, "Boys' blouses of black sateen, sailor collar, with frill, sizes 3 to 8 years ...50c." Apparently the sateen blouse was seen as suitable for a slightly younger boy.
The ad copy read, "White cambric blouses, deep sailor collar, cuffs and collar emroidery trimmed. ... 50c."
The ad copy read, "White cambric blouses, box plait down back, 6 small plaits down front, deep sailor collar, collar, cuffs, and front neatly embroidered, sizes 3 to 8 years. ... 75c." Note how much more expensive this blouse was as a result of all the elaborate ruffles.
The ad copy read, "Black saten blouses, with dep sailor collar, 2 box plaits down front and 1 down back, frill on collar, sizes 3 to 8 years. ... 75c."
The ad copy read, "White lawn blouses, wide embroidery on sailor collar and cuffs, 2 rows of embroidery and 1 of insertion down front, full loose blouse, sizes 3 to 8 years. ...1.00"
The ad copy read, "Choice white lawn blouses, sailor collar,trimmed with embroidery and 5 rows of insertion, 2 rows of embroidery and insertion down front, cuffs trimmed to match, sizes 3 to 8 year ... 1.25"
Very handome white lawb blouse, collar, front and cuffs trimmed same stle as No. 297, emboidery and insertion of finer quality and wider, sizes 3 to 8 years ... 1.50" This was the most expensive blouse shown. It would have been saved for special occassions like church or parties. Note this illustratio has a rar view to show what the blouses lookd like from the back.
The ad copy read, "Striped cmbric blouses, full and loose, deep sailor collar, trimmed ith white pique, white pique front, sizes 4 to 8 years ...50c"
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