Figure 1.--Pettigrew & Stephens offered a range of boys' suits, including short pants, long pants, and knicker (plus-fours) suits. The short pants suits were made in school sizes, age 5/6-14. The long pants suits were made for boys 13-18 years of age. The cut ff from short to long pants seems rather sharp, 13-14 years. Note that these were not school uniforms, although the boy in shorts is shown wearing school socks. Knicker suits were made for boys 13-17 years, but as best we can tell were not very widely worn.

Pettigrew & Stephens, a Glasgoe department store, offered a range of boys' suits, including short pants, long pants, and knicker (plus-fours) suits. The short pants suits were made in school sizes, age 5/6-14. The long pants suits were made for boys 13-18 years of age. The cut ff from short to long pants seems rather sharp, 13-14 years. Note that these were not school uniforms, although the boy in shorts is shown wearing school socks. Knicker suits were made for boys 13-17 years, but as best we can tell were not very widely worn.

Pettigrew & Stephens

Pettigrew & Stephens was a large Glasgoe department store. It was located at 181-193 Sauchiehall Street. This was Glasgow's most famous street, in part because of its Scottish-sounding music-hall name and also it was a very popular street for shopping. Some of the most noted Glasgow stores were located on Sauchiehall Steet, including Pettigrew and Stephens, Copeland and Lye, Daly's, and Hendersons. Watt Bros. is the only survivor. These were shops for affluent shoppers. Working class shopers were more likely to frquent the shops on Argyle Street. Pettigrew & Stephens opened in 1901. It was a large store with seven floors and a pneumatic tube sysrem. A Scottish reader tells us, "Pettigrew & Stephens was a large department store situated in Glasgow which was 25 miles from Falkirk where I grew up. Even in the 1950s it was common for families to take the train to Glasgow to shop on local holidays. I was outfitted several times at this store and at the large Fraser store in Buchanan Street."

Publications

This looks to have appeared in a Glasgow newspaper in January 1933.

Suits

Pettigrew & Stephens Suits

Pettigrew & Stephens offered a range of boys' suits, including short pants, long pants, and knicker (plus-fours) suits. The short pants suits were made in school sizes, age 5/6-14. The long pants suits were made for boys 13-18 years of age. The cut ff from short to long pants seems rather sharp, 13-14 years. Note that these were not school uniforms, although the boy in shorts is shown wearing school socks. Knicker suits were made for boys 13-17 years, but as best we can tell were not very widely worn.

Boys' school suits

This was a short pants school suit and not a school uniform. This would we think been worn at a private school, presumably a preparatory school. This is in part because Pettigrew & Stephens was an unmarket department store. Some private schools had suits rather than blazers and some had both suits and blazers for various occassions. The ad copy read, "Boys School Suits, three garments; cut from odd lengths of good quality material; strongly made and lined. Colours are greys, browns, and fawn mixtures. To fit 6 to 14 years. Regular Values 32/6. All sizes one Sale Price 21/-.

Boys' school suits

This was a better quality school suit. It was another short pants suit. The ad copy read, "Boys' School Suits in real Homespun tweeds, perfectly cut and lined; in good shades of fawnand brown. To fit 5 to 14 yrs. Regular value 35/. All sizes one Sale Price 29/6. Other qualities. Sale Prices 35/ - 39/6." Note the colors of these school suits. Modern school suits are almost all grey. Here school suits were also done in brown and fawn.

Youths' long trouser suits

This was a long pants suit for older boys. The ad copy read, "Youths' Long Trouser Suits as sketched or with double breated lapels. The colours are greys, browns, fawns, and fancy mixtures. To fit 13 to 18 years. Regular value 50/. All sizes one Sakle Price 37/6. Better qualities Sale Prices 50/-, 63/-.

Youths' plus-four suits

There were also knicker suits for older boys. The ad copy read, "Youths' Plus-Four Suits, (three garments) in Homespun tweeds and saxonys. In brown and fawn mixtures and bold checks. To fit 13 to 17 yrs. of age. Regular value 53/-. All sizes one Sale Price 42/-." I think this might have been seen as a kind of sporty outfit, both because of the knickers and bold patterns. Also notice the paterned knee socks worn with it.

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Created: 4:08 PM 3/23/2008
Last updated: 4:08 PM 3/23/2008