Figure 1.--Sears offered these knicker suits with Norfolk styling in its Fall-Winter 1925-26 catalog. Note the back views. Many came with an extra pair of knickers. The suits were for boys from 5/8-15/17 years of age. |
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Sears offered a page with several different styles of knicker suits in corduroy and other materials. Norfolk styling was still evident, at least the belting. I don't see the venting. They came with extra pants. The ad appeared in the Sears Fall and
Winter catalog for 1925, p. 281.
The Sears, Roebuck and Co., huge merchandising firm centered in Chicago was founded by Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) and A.C. Roebuck (1864-1948). Sears had begun a career in mail-order business in Minnesota 1886. In Chicago he and Roebuck joined resources and formed a corporation in 1893 as a mail-order business under title Sears, Roebuck and Company. In 1895 Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) bought Roebuck's interest in firm and became president on Sears's retirement 1908. A retail-store system was added 1925. The first foreign store added in Havana, Cuba during 1945 and became the first expropriated store in 1960. The Sears-Roebuck brought the production of industry to the fartherest corner of rural America, opening the cornucopia of the consumer age to rural America. All the new things that were changing American life danced across their pages. Through it, a huge Chicago warehouse offers to modernize the farms and small towns of the Midwest.
Sears offered four knicker suits on this page. The page stressed that the suits "Look Good--Wear Like Iron!" Sears offered a page with several different styles of knicker suits in corduroy and other materials. Norfolk styling was still evident, at least the belting. I don't see the venting. They came with extra pants. The ad appeared in the Sears Fall and Winter catalog for 1925, p. 281. The suits were for boys from 5/8-15/17 years of age.
At the top left Sears offered "For Your Boy! 40 D 3211--Two Pants Suit $5.98. Sizes, 5 to 15 years. State age size, Shpg wt. 4 1/2 lbs. Firmly woven cassimere, about one-half wool, in the season's most popular medium brown mixed patterns interwoven with fancy decorations. A suit that will compare with any that can be bought for $8.00 or $9.00 elsewhere. Stylishly cut. Three patch pockets with flaps. Belt all around. Full lined coat with two pairs of full lined knickerbockers."
At the top right, the Sears ad copy read, "Suit and Extra Pants. For Service and Wear. Seal Brown Corduroy Suits With One or Two Pairs of Pants. 40 D 3277 One-Pants Suit $6.68. 40 D 3278 Two-Pants Suit $8.88. Sizes, 8 to 17 years. State age size. Shipping weights, 3 1/2 lbs and 4 1/2 pounds. What boy wouldn't be pleased to have one of these beautiful seal brown thickset corduroy suits. They are not only warm and waterproof, but also
extremely durable. They have all the style features that a boy could want. Belt around. Patch pockets, straight yoke and box pleat in back. Suits may be had with either one or two pairs of full lined knickerbocker pants. Buying the suit with the extra pair of pants will prove a profitable investment."
At the bottom left Sears offered serge blue suits with either one or two pairs of knoickers. The Sears ad copy read. "Year After Year Favorite Navy Blue Serge Suit 40 D 3201--One-Pants Suit $4.75 Shipping wt., 3 1/2 lbs. 40 D 3297--Two-Pants Suit $6.48 Shipping wt., 4 1/2 lbs. Serge weave cassimere, about one-half wool, dark blue color. A real school suit, with one or two pairs of kickerbockers. A suit that is made to stand up under daily wear and hold its shape. Popular style coat with belt around.
Full lined with durable twill. Lined kickerbocker pants with regular pockets. Seams double stitched and taped to give added strength. Outfit your boy now and have him ready for school."
At the bottom center Sears offered cassimere suits. The ad copy read, "Two Popular Colors In Sturdy Cassimere. Each $5.48
40 D 3208--Brown With Hairline Stripe. 40 D 3209--Navy Blue With Hairline Stripe. Sizes, 7 7o 17 years. State age size. Shipping weight 3 1/2 pounds.Smartly designed patch pocket model. Very latest style. Back has straight yoke and inverted two-tuck pleats. Made of three-fourths wool material in two seasonable colors, brown or navy blue with faint olive and orange hairline stripes. Coat is lined throughout with good grade of alpaca. Full lined knickerbocker style pants with regular pockets. A good-wearing suit for school and play, but nice enough for dress."
These suits appearing iun the Fa---Wunter catalog were designed in part for school wear. They could be worn with either kneesocks or long stockings. Note that the illustrations here show the boys wearing the suits with long stockings.
The sizes of these suits varied. The range was from 5/8-15/17 years of age. This mean that boys were still wearing knickers in high school. Note that some were available in sizes as small as 5 years of age. We note that knickers were also worn in Europe. We do not think, however, that they were worn at such young ages. Boys that young were more likely to wear short pants. In America, after 1925 knickers in age sizes for older highschool boys become less common.
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