Figure 1.--Au Bon Marché offered several different styles of sailor suits in 1940. There was both traditional as well as more elaborately styled suits. Most were short pants suits, but some were available with optional short or long trousers. Sizes varied , but rnged from 3-12 years of age. |
We note several styles of sailor suits done in sizes for boys 3-12 years of age. The colors were blue, light grey, and white. They were done with both traditionally as well as more elaborately styled suits. They were available in optional short or long pants styles. Some of the illustrations showed caps, but these were purchased separately. They were all done in the button-on style. They look to be dressy rather than play suits.
Au Bon Marché was a large Paris Department store. The store was one of the most popular in Paris. It still is a major Paris landmark. Most historians claim the Magasin au Bon Marché in Paris was the world's first true department store (1852). Au bon Marché is still a large Paris department store. HBC has acquired some Au Bon Marché advertisments for boys clothing from the early 20th century. It is considered by some to be the oldest and the classiest department store in Paris. Gustave Eiffel had a hand in its design. Womenswear (first floor) carries avant-garde as well as classic designers and a sophisticated lingerie department. Elsewhere you'll find a glossy menswear department, kitchen and household items, bedlinens, curtain fabrics, furniture, stationery, a large bookshop, children's toys and clothes. Shop 2 contains an excellent food hall, bar and restaurant, as well as an antiques arcade.
Sailor suits were very popular for French boys by the late 19th century. A popular style was to wear middy blouses with knickers, both above and below the knee styles, with short ankle socks. By the 1920s they were being worn by younger boys, mostly with short pants. French boys wore many kinds of straw hats with their sailor suits, including the wide-brimmed style with streaming ribbons. They also wore them with the soft white caps with red pompoms like the caps worn by French sailors. Sailor suits continued to be popular in the 1930s when they were made in sizes to 12 years in both short pants and long pants styles. This meant French boys through about 13 wore sailor suits. Several different styles were worn, for details see the French sailor suit page.
The sailor suits here look to be outfits worn for dressy or formal occassions. They do not look to be play suits.
Au Bon Marché offered several different styles of sailor suits in 1940. There was both traditional as well as more elaborately styled suits. Some have double-breasted styling. Most were short pants suits, but some were available with optional short or long trousers. Sizes varied, but ranged from 3-12 years of age.
This traditionally styled sailor suit was available in both short and long pants. The ad copy read, "MARIN belle serge, Avec culotte. 3-6 ans ... 105 francs et 178 francs; 7-9 ans ... 118 francs et 198 francs; 10-12 ans ... 129 francs et 218 francs.
Avec pantalon. 3-6 ans ... 212 francs; 7-9 ans ... 232 francs;
10-12 ans ... 252 francs. Blouse serge blanche, Avec culotte serge bleu. 3-6 ans ... 130 francs; 7-9 ans ... 145 francs; Avec pantalon. 3-6 ans ... 145 francs; 7-9 ans ... 160 francs; 10-12 ans ... 175 francs." This translates as, "SAILOR good Serge material
With short pants: 3-6 years ... 105 francs and 178 francs;
7-9 years ... 118 francs and 198 francs; 10-12 years ... 129 francs and 218 francs. With long trousers: 3-6 years ... 212 francs;
7-9 years ... 232 francs; and 10-12 years ... 252 francs. Blouse white Serge material and short pants blue Serge material:
3-6 years ... 130 francs; 7-9 years ... 145 francs. With long trouses: 3-6 years ... 145 francs; 7-9 years ... 160 francs;
10-12 years ... 175 francs."
The ad copy read, "MARIN , blouse Serge gris clair, culotte Serge bleue. 3 à 6 ans ... 155. 7 à 9 ans ... 170. 10 à 12 ans ... 180. Avec pantalon. 3 à 6 ans ... 177. 7 à 9 ans ... 192. 10 à 12 ans ... 200." This translates as, "Serge sailor blouse, material clear grey, blue short pants. 3-6 years ... 155 francs; 7-9 years ... 170 francs; 10-12 years ... 180 francs. With long trousers.
3-6 years ... 177 francs; 7-9 years ... 192 francs; and 10-12 years ... 200 francs.
The ad copy read, "COSTUME, blouse Serge gris bleuté, culotte Serge bleue ou blouse Serge beige, culotte marron. 3 à 6 ans ... 140. 7 à 9 ans ... 155." This translates as, "SUIT, blouse Serge Grey/blue, short pant Serge blue or with a blouse Serge beige , short pant brown . 3-6 years ... 140 francs and 7-9 years ... 155 francs."
French boys still wore capes in the 1940s. I believe this was seen as a school style. The ad copy read, " PELERINE capuchon fixe et ouvertures caoutchouc ciré, marron ou bleu 0m50 ... 30. 3 en plus par 0,05
Tissu caoutchouté genre lin , beige clair ou marine 0m50 49.
4. en plus par 0,05." This translates as, "CAPE with fixed hooded and polished rubbed opening, brown or blue 0,50 meter. 30 francs.
3 francs per 5cm more. Rubberized material alike lin, light beige or dark blue 0,50 meter 49 francs. 4 francs per 5cm more."
We of course know what satin is. I am not sure just what satin drill is. The ad copy read, " MARIN beau coutil satin blanc
avec culotte. 3 à 6 ans ... 53 et 65. 7 à 9 ans ... 59. et 73.
10 à 12 ans ... 65. et 83. Avec pantalon. 3 à 6 ans ... 61. et 74.
7 à 9 ans ... 67. et 82. 10 à 12 ans ... 73. et 92." This translates as, "SAILOR good white satin-drill with short pants:
3-6 years ... 53 francs and 65 francs; 7-9 years ... 59 francs and 73 francs; and 10-12 years ... 73 francs and 92 francs. With long trousers: 3 to 6 years ... 61 francs and 74 francs; 7 to 9 years ... 67 francs and 82 francs; and 10 to 12 years ...73 francs and 92 francs.
The ad copy read, "COSTUME , blouse très beau lainage pied-de-poule, culotte Serge bleue ou marron pure laine.
3 à 6 ans ... 175. 7 à 9 ans ... 190." This trandslates as, "SUIT, blouse very nice woollen fabric houndstooth, short pant Serge blue or brown in pure wool. 3-6 years ... 175 francs; 7-9 years ... 190 francs."
I am not sure just how boys would have worn these suits. Some boys may have worn them to school. I think, however, they may have been primarily worn when dressing up. We have note boys wearing sailir suits for First Communion, but this seems to have mostly been white suits.
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