Figure 1.--'Woman's Home Companion' provided color deawings of Spring fashions for younger boys and girls (March 1912). There were tunics for the boys, including bright colors. The girls were pictured with dresses, some looking a bit like tunics. 'Woman's Home Companion' was one of the most important woman's magazines at the time, focusing on fashion and home making. The drawings were by M. Emma Musselman. She produced some of the best drawings as a fashion illustrator during the early 20th century century. She worked with both children's and adult fashions, especially women's fashions. She produced some bery striking images of women. The caption here read, "These smart-looking clothes for little boys and girls have been especially designed to help mothers wjo mke their children's clothes and who want their little folks to be dressed with simplicity and destinction. A pattern may be obtained for ten cents for each designe illustrated. The quantity of material required for each garment may be found pn page 89 of this issue. Be sure, when ordering, to mention the number pf pattern designed and the age of the child. Wevnow have three pattern-depots from which the Women's Home Companion may be ordered."
Tunic suits were a very popular style for pre-school or very early primary-age boys. Thus it does not fit easily into the toddler section, but todlers did wear them. Most boys did not wear them to school. Many different terms were used for tunic suits at the time. Some ads suggested that they could be worn by girls as well, but we do not see many girls wearing them in the photographic record. Sears offered a range of Ucanttear suits, many of which were tunic suits for younger boys 2 1/2 to 9 years of age. Ucanttear was a Sears store brand. The suits were done as both tunic suits as well as in the sack suit style worn by older boys. The tunic suits were referred to as Russian blouse suits. Curiously some were even called Russian Eton suits, although we have no idea orecisely what that meant. Interestingly the length of the the tunics and suit coats were similar. The suits were done with knickers. Sears called the pants for the tunic suits bloomer knickers. The Frank Empsall Fall & winter catalog offered a galeta tunic suit which they called a frock suit for boys up to age 6 years. We also see tunic suits depicted in the Woman's Home Companion, a major wonam's magazine in the early-20th century.
Sears offered a range of Ucanttear suits, many of which were tunic suits for younger boys 2 1/2 to 9 years of age. Ucanttear was a Sears store brand. The suits were done as both tunic suits as well as in the sack suit style worn by older boys. The tunic suits were referred to as Russian blouse suits. Curiously some were even called Russian Eton suits, although we have no idea orecisely what that meant. Interestingly the length of the the tunics and suit coats were similar. The suits were done with knickers. Sears called the pants for the tunic suits bloomer knickers. They were donevwith string ties at the kbnees rather than buckles.
The Frank Empsall Fall & winter catalog offered a galeta tunic suit which they called a frock dress for boys up to age 6 years. This is not a catalog we know very much about. While the catalog described the garment as a frock dress, it is clearly a tunic suit. The ad copy suggests girls could also wear it. Galeta is a fabric. Note the striped patern. While we see boys commonly wearing tunic suits in the photographic record, we rarely see striped suits. The Frank Empsall catalog ad copy read, "No. 692--Galeta Frock Dressm for boys or girls. Comes in dark stripes on white, with trimming of solid color galatea and fancy glass buttons. Size 2 to 6 years. Price .... $1.00."
Woman's Home Companion Spring Fashions
Woman's Home Companion (March 1912) provided color deawings of Spring fashions for boys and girl (figure 1). The magazine even employed people to design the fashions--Selina Yorke and a Miss Gould. There were tunics for the boys, including bright colors. Notice the bright red tunic in the center. And the fact the boy is shown wearing blong black st0ckings rather than white socks. This probably relects the fact that he is shown as a little older than the other boys and that this is a formal rather than a play outfit. The girls were pictured with dresses, some looking a bit like the boys' tunics. It is difficult to read the description of each item because od the small print. Th vterm tunic is not used. The younger boy's blue outfit is called a dress. The other boy's outdits are calkled suits. Notice all the different styles. Woman's Home Companion was one of the most important woman's magazines at the time, focusing on fashion and home making. This was not a manufacturer's or retailer's advertisemnt. The magazine provided patterns for the many home sewers. Many American mothers by the 1910s had a sewing machine. The drawings were by M. Emma Musselman. While the designers are unknown individuals, Musselmgan was an icon of fashion illustration. She produced some of the best drawings as a fashion illustrator during the early 20th century century. She worked with both children's and adult fashions, especially women's fashions. She profuced some bery striking images of women.
