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This is a very useful Sears ad (Spring and Summer catalog, p. 287) illustrating the wide variety of boys' summer underwear in 1931. Here we see the new sleeveless knit undershirts worn with broadcloth striped shorts that button in front with three buttons. We also see various types of summer union suits for boys, all with short legs. One model is made of mesh fabric (cf. the Porosknit ads in the 1910s) and is sleeveless, another is a slip-on style with no buttons except at the shoulder, and still another is a BVD style of union suit (sleeveless) with buttons all the way down the front (a junior
version of adult men's underwear). Two styles of knit union suits with short legs are also illustrated, one with short sleeves and one sleeveless. In addition Sears also had a knitted summer waist union suit (sleeveless with short legs) with reinforcing straps, waist buttons, and metal pin tubes for fastening hose supporters. Although the new two-piece summer underwear for boys was just beginning to be an option, the dominant style (as shown by the greater number of styles offered) was still the union suit, either in a knitted or non-knitted version. The age levels for most of these union suits
depend on chest measurement from 24 to 34 inches. Notice that we have the precursors of modern boxers, but there are not yet any briefs offered. They were being introduced by Jockey and not yet available through Sears.
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 becane 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.
This is a very useful Sears ad (Spring and Summer catalog, p. 287) illustrating the wide variety of boys' summer underwear in 1931. Here we see the new sleeveless knit undershirts worn with broadcloth striped shorts that button in front with three buttons. We also see various types of summer union suits for boys, all with short legs. One model is made of mesh fabric (cf. the Porosknit ads in the 1910s) and is sleeveless, another is a slip-on style with no buttons except at the shoulder, and still another is a BVD style of union suit (sleeveless) with buttons all the way down the front (a junior
version of adult men's underwear). Two styles of knit union suits with short legs are also illustrated, one with short sleeves and one sleeveless. In addition Sears also had a knitted summer waist union suit (sleeveless with short legs) with reinforcing straps, waist buttons, and metal pin tubes for fastening hose supporters. Although the new two-piece summer underwear for boys was just beginning to be an option, the dominant style (as shown by the greater number of styles offered) was still the union suit, either in a knitted or non-knitted version. The age levels for most of these union suits
depend on chest measurement from 24 to 34 inches. This means that boys as old as 16 could wear these union suits, and, if they had small chests, perhaps even as old as 18. But after the age of 16 most boys would be wearing men's underwear. All these suits are for boys only with the exception of the waist union suit, which could be worn by either boys or girls.
The ad text reads as follows;
Light Weight Elastic Knit [Union Suits] Each Suit 35 c. Post Paid. Good Quality Cotton. Boys! Here's the kind of a suit active boys like for summer wear. Light Weight ... Cool ... Soft ... Stretchy. Won't pull or bind. Takes up the perspiration. Fits right because it's made right. Rounded seat won't gap. Shoulder inserts "give" and prevent strain. Mighty low price! Color: White 16E7516--Sleeveless
16E7517--Short sleeves Even sizes only, 24 to 34. [These are chest measurements.] [Note: these union suits are made with a one-button flap closure in the seat. They do not have the more old-fashioned drop seat with three buttons.]
Shirts and Shorts for Boys! Your Choice: 25 c. Each Garment.
[There are three models here.] lat knit shirt, fine, light cotton shirts! They fit but don't cling. Just the thing for active boys. Well made, deep armed, athletic style. 16E7508--
White 25 c. each. Swiss ribbed Shirt, highly elastic cotton shirt. Snug-fitting, absorbent, comfortable. Our best selling style for boys. Priced very low. 16E7512--White 25 c. each.
Fancy Striped Shorts Same, good-looking panel ribbing you see on Dad's best shirts. Combed Cotton--soft and smooth. Swiss ribbed. Fine, smooth cotton Broadcloth Shorts. Comfortable balloon seat. Guaranteed elastic in back. Shirts. Each 35 c. 16E7514--White; Shorts. Each 35 c. 16E7513--Patterns similar to illustration. Shirts and Shorts in even sizes, 24 to 34 in chest or waist. State size. Cotton Broadcloth Short, Each 25 c. Bright, vat dye colored shorts in smooth cotton Broadcloth. Comfortable, roomy cut! High grade elastic, guaranteed, gives fullness to sides. Smooth, deep yoke front. 16E7515--Patterns similar to illustrations. Shirts and Shorts in even sizes, 24 to 34 inches chest or waist measure. State size.
Postpaid.
[Boys' non-knitted summer union suits.] Guaranteed Not to Rip.
Double Guarantee Certificate. Note these Positive-Wear Features: (1) Tripple Stitched Seams, (2) Cross Straps Distribute Strain at Back, (3) Elastic Reinforces the Knit Band Twice, (4) Specially Shaped Seat, (5) All Points of Strain Bar Tacked. [Two styles--both are sleeveless and have buttons all the way down the front. Flap button seat.]
59 c. Each Postpaid. We want you fellows to look at this construction, because we know you want good, hard-wearing suits. And we don't think you'll find a stronger, more soundly made athletic suit. Every feature described above is built into these suits. This is one of the first boy's suits guaranteed not to rip, and it is still second to none. Color--White.
16E7522--Pajama check Nainsook
16E7523--Fancy striped Madras. Each Suit 59 c. Postpaid. Even Sizes only, 24 to 34 inchest chest. State size.
[Three styles of summer union suits for boys.] Mesh Weave. 37 c. Post Paid. Cool Open Mesh Weave. Open weave that lets the
cool air circulate about you. Soft, porous cloth that keeps you dry and comfortable. Tailored; easy-stretching fabric that lets you move with perfect feedom. Made of good quality cotton, correct sizes, comfortable cut and extremely low priced! 16E7525--White. Even sizes only, 24 to 34 inches chest. State size. Button-on Shoulder. How's this for comfort? For convenience. Step into this suit and button two buttons. That's all! It's soft, flat knit cotton that
takes up the moisture and keeps you comfortable. Free cut athletic style. Light summer weight! Neatly finished. 16E7528--White. Even sizes only, 24 to 34 inches chest. State chest. [Note: Interestingly, this style has no fly in front because the legs are designed to be loose.] Nainsook Just Like Dad's. 37 c. Postpaid. Well Reinforced Back. A regular man's suit cut in boys' sizes. Made for the kind of wear a man gives his clothes. With staps across the back to take the strain from the fabric; with elastic snubber over the knit band in the back. Good, sturdy nainsook in the sizes that fit. Well tailored seat. A good, cool comfortable suit that saves you money, if you get it here. 16E7520--White. Even sizes only, 24 to 34 inches chest. State size. Postpaid. [Note the flap button seat.]
Waist Suit for Boys and Girls. 37 c. Post Paid. Comfortable,
soft knit cotton suit that answers every underwear requirement in itself [i.e., serves as both a union suit and an underwaist at the same time]. Soft and fine for sensitive skins. Tubular, "stretchable" knit straps with buttons to support outer clothing. Pin tubes for garters. Drop seat. 16E7090--White. Sizes to fit ages, 2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 years. State age. We Pay Postage. [Note: this waist union suit, in general construction, is similar to winter styles of children's waist suits shown in the Sears 1932 advertisement, but differs from the winter styles in being sleeveless and in
having short legs. For waist suits there was generally little gender
difference. They were made for both boys and girls whereas the straight union suits were normally desgined and advertised separately.]
The early 1930s were an important transitional phase in men and boys' underwear. Here we see some of the older styles. Notice also that we have the precursors of modern boxers. They are in the sdhorts style, but do not yet have the all around elasticised waistbands characteristic of boxers. Also note that there are not yet any briefs offered. They were being introduced by Jockey and not yet available through Sears.
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