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It was still very common for boys to wear suits in the 1920s. B. Altman and Company was a high-end department store founded in New York City by Benjamin Altman (1865). The flagship store was the B. Altman and Company Building at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, opened (1906). The 1923-24 fall and winter catalog featured a range of suits for school age boys, both knicker and long pants suits in size 8-18 years. There were knicker suits for older boys and long pants options for younger boys. Many of the knicker suits were done with Norfolk jackets. Here we also have Altman single-breasted jackets. While the styling was similar, they were available many different colors and fabrics. The long pants suits were done with single-breasted jackets. We still see some boy wearing Eton collars with suits. Herethe fact that Altman was a high end retailer was a factor.
It was still very common for boys to wear suits in the 1920s. Parly as a result of World War I, we see rge behinning of an incresing intrest in casual styles. Westill see, owever, many boys werng suits, incluing to attend school.
B. Altman and Company was a high-end department store founded in New York City by Benjamin Altman (1865). The flagship store was the B. Altman and Company Building at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, opened (1906).
Most of the boys here aee wearing what looks like white shirts with their suits. They were not being offered for sale so we do not see deails. We still see detachable Eton collars, alhough after the 20s Eton collars declned in popularity, but they did not entirely disappear. They were probably worn with shirt waists. We see one shirt being ordered, it was not pictured being worn with suits. It was a tan shirt. The British wore gray shrts as an every day school shirt. This was less common in America. The shirt here was tan, it would have been used as a casual shirt, here shown being worn with riding beeches. 58F111: "Tan Shirt of a highly mercerzed cotton material; button-down collar style sizes 12-14 neck. .... $2.25" This is the first time we have noted button-down shirt collars which would become a preppy standard in the 1950s.
The 1923-24 fall and winter catalog featured a range of suits for school age boys, both knicker and long pants suits in size 8-18 years. There were knicker suits for older boys and long pants options for younger boys. Many of the knicker suits were done with Norfolk jackets. Here we also have Altman single-breasted jackets. While the styling was similar, they were available many different colors and fabrics. The long pants suits were done with single-breasted jackets. We still see some boy wearing Eton collars with suits. Here the fact that Altman was a high end retailer was a factor.
There were knicker suits for shool boys of most ages up to teenagers 18 years of age, meaning high school boys. There were also long pants options for these boys. We don't see short pants options, probably because it was the seasonal Fall and Winter catalog. The sizes coves all school ages except for the fiest two years of primary school. Age 8 years would begin with 3rd grade. Many of the knicker suits were done with Norfolk jackets. Here we also have Altman single-breasted jackets. While the styling was similar, they were available many different colors and fabrics. We still see some boy wearing Eton collars with suits. Here the fact that Altman was a high end retailer was a factor. The Altman caption reads, "Good lines and excellent tailoring n clothing for active boys. Sizes 8 to 18: all with two pairs of Knickers and with special reinforcement.
58F102: "Suit of fine herringbone or diagonal nweave with side plaits at half-belt at back; grey or brown. .... $22.00."
58F103: "Finely tailored drab corduroy Suit makes a substantial school suit. .... $13.50."
58F105:: "Dress Suit of navy blue Cheviot. .... $18.50." This was a standard suit for boys. We begin to see a dark blue suit becoming popular for boys in the 1910s. And this is the same case today.
58F106:: "Suit tailored of popular mannish woolens, in new plaid effectson grey or brownbackground; plain coat with belt at back; pants loose from side seams. .... $25.00."
58F107:: "Suit developed inattractive woolen material in grey or brown. .... $19.50."
58F109:: "Brown or gray Suit of sturdy wool fabric, in a stylish plaited model. .... $12.75."
We note two long pants suits offered in the Altman Fall-Winnter 1923-24 catlog. The suis are single -breasted jackets with reltively narrow, high-set lapels. 58F126 was offered in brown and gray. 58F127 included navy blue. The models are a mid-teen and an older teen. The sizes are described, but we cannot make them out. Both are done with extra pants and the pants are done with cuffs.
Altman's in its 1923-24Fall and Winter catalog offered suits with both knickers and long pants, but no short pants. Int he 19th century, many of he pants purchased for boys were purchased as part of a suit, especially in the second half of the century. Boys did not have the large wardrobes that are common today. In the 20th century a dress became more casual, we see more pants being purchased separately. The mos obvious in the early 20th century were overalls which appeared in rural areas. Altman' was a high end retailer so we don't see much in the way of overalls. But we do see Riding Breeches which was a type of higher end pants that appeared at the turn of the 20th century, thanks to Indian royalty. They are related to Jodpours brought to England from of course Jodpour as part of the polo craze. Riding breeches are essenially Jodpours with shorter legs. And of course, polo was an upper-class sport which is why we find them in on the Altman's catalog. Of course relatively few people played polo, mostly vigorous young men. They were, however, worn for all kinds of upper-class equestrian activities, including those for boys and girls. Farm children for the most part did no have Jodpours and riding breeches--except perhaps if it was a horse farm. Atman's offered fur types of ridng breeches.
58F112: Riding Breeches of fine quality wool gabersine, ???? reinforcements; sizes 8? to 8? years, tn color ... $12.50." Options included "drab corduroy ... $6.75 and khaki color cotton gabardine ... $5.00."
58F113: Suit, with yoke and box plaits; tailored f good quality wollen mixtures, in gray or brown ... $15.75."
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