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Unions suits were still commonly worn, especially during the winter. We notice several differt types of Wards union suits offered for winter 1926-27. mary three-button drop seat arrangement, which was still the usual opening for waist union suits of the period. In the 1920s, especially in the northern states, long underwear was very common for both boys and men from about October to April, and some men and boy wore lighter-weight long underwear even in spring and summer. The Wards union suits were for boys from 6 to 18 years of age. They feature various combinations of wool and cotton from only one quarter wool to completely wool. The fabric is made so that the wool is on the outer surface for warmth and the cotton is next to the skin for comfort.
Here are some examples of Ward's winter underwear for boys from the Fall and Winter catalogue of 1926-27, page 122. Although the word "consumerism" has a modern ring, it was personal concern for an early consumer movement, the "National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry," That inspired a young traveling salesman named Aaron Montgomery Ward to start the world's first general merchandise mail-order company in 1872. Aaron Montgomery Ward was born on February 17, 1844, in Chatham, New Jersey, to a family whose forebears had served as officers in the French and Indian Wars as well as in the American Revolution. Looking for something more compatible, Monty left home and followed the river to Lake Michigan and the town of St. Joseph, county seat and market for outlying fruit orchards. Chicago was the center of the wholesale dry goods trade and in the 1860s Ward joined the leading dry goods house, Field Palmer & Leiter.
The union suit is a close-fitting underwear garment. The term union refers to the fact that a union suit involves the combination of both a shirt and pants (drawers) in a one piece suit. The garment commonly included a drop seat. This term began to be used in the 1890s. The term union suit was commonly used for adults. The children's version was a waist suit or a waist-union suit. Women also wore union suits. So did girls. But they were associated mainly with men because more men than women wore them. With boys and girls, I'm not sure. I think waist union suits were equally popular for boys and girls because of the waist feature. Union suits for children were essentially combination suits. But union suits without the reinforcement straps were mainly a boy's garment.
mary three-button drop seat arrangement, which was still the usual opening for waist union suits of the period. In the 1920s, especially in the northern states, long underwear was very common for both boys and men from about October to April, and some men and boy wore lighter-weight long underwear even in spring and summer. Central heating was by no means universal. But the underwear with woolen
content was reserved for the fall and winter catalogues.
The Wards union suits were for boys from 6 to 18 years of age. These are simple union suits, more or less
identical in style with adult men's union suits but of course in smaller sizes. The upper limits on some of the suits is 16 years, while other models are sized up to 18 years.
They feature various combinations of wool and cotton from only one quarter wool to completely wool. The fabric is made so that
the wool is on the outer surface for warmth and the cotton is next to the skin for comfort (because the old fashioned woolen union suits tended to scratch uncomfortably).
The choices
are all union suits with long sleeves and ankle length for really cold weather. An interesting new feature here is
the flap one-button seat as opposed to the more custoThese union suits have no waist features for buttoning on trousers or fastening
supporters for long stockings. Boys who wore long stockings with these
union suits would need a separate underwaist or suspender waist for the
support of long stockings. But in the later 1920s most boys 16 years or older had graduated to long trousers. Some boys wore union suits with short sleeves and knee length legs, but these tended to be more popular
in cities or during the hotter months of the year.
Wards offered a variety of suits with varying wool content. Wool was seen as the most appropriste for cold weather and was the nost expensive facric. These suits had the same fabric on the outer and inner sides.
The Wards ad copy read, "6, 8 and 10 years $1.55. 12, 14 and 16 years $1.85. State size wanted. 29 E 346—Natural gray. Postage, each 4 cents extra. Moderately priced Union Suits containing about 25 per cent wool. They are heavy winter weight and are knit in a fine elastic rib. Finished with flat collarette neck. Military shoulders. Wide lapped one-button seat. Ankle length."
The Wards ad copy read, "6, 8 and 10 Years $1.89. 12, 14 and 16 Years $2.29. State size wanted. 29 E 334—Natural gray. Postage, each, 4 cents extra. Better quality. 25 per cent wool Union Suits for boys. Heavy winter weight fine ribbed knit. Wide lapped seat. Ribbed collarette neck. Ankle length. Flat lock seams are used throughout. You will be pleased with their excellent quality."
The Wards ad copy read, "All Sizes $2.49 Each. 29 E 338—Natural gray. Sizes: 6 to 16 years. State size wanted. Postage, each, 4 cents extra. A special value in heavy winter weight Union Suits for boys. Of good quality yarns containing 50 per cent wool. Fine ribbed and finished with ribbed collarette neck. Close fitting cuffs at wrist and ankles. Military shoulders. Wide lapped one-button seat. Closed crotch. Flat smooth seams throughout."
The Wards ad copy read, " 6 and 8 Years $2.95. 10 and 12 Years $3.45. 14 and 16 Years $3.95. 29 E 339—Natural gray. Sizes: 6 to 16 years. State size wanted. Postage, each, 4 cents extra. The same fine quality pure Australian wool is used for these Union Suits for boys as is used in our 29 E 258 men’s Union Suit on Page 105. Heavy weight. Suitable for the coldest climate. Knit on spring needle machines, they are fine ribbed and elastic. Wide lapped one-button seat. Closed crotch. Ankle length. The warmest winter underwear you can buy for your boy."
Two suits were offered under the heading "Part Worsted for Outer Surface, Soft Cotton Next to the Skin". These suits thus had variable fabric on the outer and inner sides. They were braded Twin-????. This seems to be s relatively new feature. We are not sure jus when it first appeared.
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