Figure 1.--Here are all but one of the boys suits on a page of the the Galeries Lafayette isummer 1937 catalog. Notice that many are called Norfolk suits, but do not seem to have Norfolk styling. |
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Galeries Lafayette in its summer 1937 offered a variety of short pants suits for boys 4-14 years of age. The sizes varied for the different suits. They were all single breasted suits. There were also two types of sailor suits offered. The suits were marked "Norfolk", but we don't see any Norfolk styling features. We are not sure why they were called Norfolk suits. We note both path and regular pockets. One suit had knee pants buttons at the knee hem, but this styling was rapidly disappearing. These suits, especially the sailor suits, could have been worn for a variety of special occassions. The suggestion here is that only one of the sailor suits is appropriate for First Communion. (The illustration shows the boy holding white gloves.) Various materials like flannel were used. They were done in a variety of different patterns. The desplay included a Navy pea jacket tht might be worn with these suits. Many but not all the boys over age 13-14 would have worn knicker ot long pants suits. While these suits were in the summer catalog. Thy do not seem to be light-weight summer suits, but the ad copy describing the suits is very limited.
The Louvre of department stores carries over 75,000 brand names, and welcomes (in the loosest sense) the equivalent of the entire population of Paris each month. Concessions run from Yohji Yamamoto to Gap. The menswear department has recently been given a make over and is now one of the largest in Europe. Also look for enormous departments dedicated to lingerie (an entire floor), beauty products, kitchenwares, books, records, home furnishings and even souvenirs. The two sixth floor restaurants offer panoramic views; Café Sushi is in adjoining Lafayette Maison. For many years Galerie Lafayette published a mail order catalog targetting te general public, including both urban and rural consumers. France in the 1930s still had a very subsantial rural population. There was no televison and the national media did not reach the rural population as it does today and rural people often did not get into cities very commonly. Thus rural children and adults did not dress as fashionably as urban families. Many rural families in France used the Galeries Lafayette catalog much like rural Americans used the Sears and Wards catalogs.
The suits offered here were described as "costume" Norfolk meaning a Norfolk suit. We do not, however, see any Norfolk styling on the suits, meand vertical vent/straps or belts. A reader writes, "I think the suit could be 'Norfolk' design. The jacket seems tight across the waist. This might be due to the belting at the back. Also there could have been an inverted pleat like a Norfolk jacket. Unfortunately the rear view is not shown. I recall suit jackets pre-war and just after with these features. The belts did not always come round to the front."
Galeries Lafayette in its summer 1937 offered a variety of short pants suits for boys 4-14 years of age. The sizes varied for the different suits. They were all single breasted suits. There were also two types of sailor suits offered. The suits were marked "Norfolk", but we don't see any Norfolk styling features. The suits are all cut similarly. We are not sure why they were called Norfolk suits. We note both path and regular pockets. One suit had knee pants buttons at the knee hem, but this styling was rapidly disappearing. These suits, especially the sailor suits, could have been worn for a variety of special occassions. The suggestion here is that only one of the sailor suits is appropriate for First Communion. (THe illustration shos the boy holding white gloves.) Various materials like flannel were used. They were done in a variety of different patterns. The desplay included a Navy pea jacket tht might be worn with these suits. Many but not all the boys over age 13-14 would have worn knicker ot long pants suits. While these suits were in the summer catalog. Thy do not seem to be light-weight summer suits, but the ad copy describing the suits is very limited. Various materials like flannel were used. They were done in a variety of different patterns. Many but not all the boys over age 13-14 would have worn knicker ot long pants suits. While these suits were in the summer catalog. Thy do not seem to be light-weight summer suits, but the ad copy describing the suits is very limited. Note that they are all shown as being worn with knee socks. Note the illustratoins are out of order.
This was a short pants Norfolk suit. We do not know why it was called a Norfolk suit. We don't see any Norfolk styling. It was on the same page as the illustratin here, but situated at the top of the page with short pants. The ad copy read, "Costume Norfolk coutil grisaille, bonne qualité. 4 à 8 ans ... Fr 29. 9 à 11 ans Fr 30. 12 à 14 ans Fr 31." This translates as, "Norfolk-style suit, grey drill, good quality."
This was also labeled a short pants flannel Norfolk suit. We at first thought "vestee" refered to a vest, but it seems to mean jacket. The ad copy reads, "Costume Norfolk veste et culotte flanelle grise. 4 à 12 ans. Exceptional, Fr 43." This translates as, "Norfolk-style suit, jacket and short pants, gray flannel. 4 to 12 years. Exceptional, Fr 43.
This was also labeled a short pants Norfolk suit. The Galeries Lafayette ad copy read. " Costume Norfolk draperíe fantaisie, entièrement double. 5 à 8 ans ... Fr 63. 9 à 10 ans. 11 à 13 ans 73." This translates as, "Costume Norfolk draperíe imagination, entirely double."
This was also labeled a short pants Norfolk suit. had the three knee pants buttons at the knee hem. This style was going out of style at the time. Note only one of these suits has these knee pants buttons. It was offered in a very wide, 4-13 years. The Galeries Lafayette ad copy read. " Costume Norfolk draperíe fantaisie, fond gris ou beige dispodsitions variée, 4 à 13 ans. Exceptional, Fr 39." This translates as, "Norfolk-styled suits, imaginative patterns, gray or beige background, varied dispodsitions, 4 to 13 years. Exceptional, Fr 39." We are not sure what dispodsitions meant.
There were two salor suits among the suits offered. The suits, especially the sailor suits, could have been worn for a variety of special occassions. The suggestion here is that only one of the sailor suits is appropriate for First Communion. (The illustration shows the boy holding white gloves.)
The display included a Navy pea jacket tht might be worn with these suits. The pea jacket, although a navy style, could have been worn with the regular sack suits as well, but was only done in sizes up to age 12 years. Note that the illustration shows the boy wearing a necktie. This means that he is wearing a regular sack suit and not a sailor suit, even though he is shown weating a sailor cap.
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