Figure 1.--The Best & Co. catalog in 1952 offered "husky clothes for rough and tumble wear" meaning jeans which were called dungarees and skacks all long pants for boys of various ages. Khaki slacks had become a staple. There were elastic waists for younger boys. There was also a variety of print shirts as well as oxford cloth blue and white shirts. There was also a denim jacket in the popular bomber style. Note the saddle and two-tone shoes. |
The Best & Co. catalog in 1952 offered "husky clothes for rough and tumble wear" meaning jeans which were called dungarees and skacks all long pants for boys of various ages. Khaki slacks had become a staple. There were elastic waists for younger boys. There was also a variety of print shirts as well as oxford cloth blue and white shirts. There was also a denim jacket in the popular bomber style.
The Best & Company appaers to have been an important New York City department store that went natioanl. The built a large store at 645 5th Avenue at East 51st Street, NE Corner (Wing on 52nd Street). It was located in Midtown Manhattan. The building was replaced by the Olympic Tower of Aristotle Onassis. I am not sure when the comapny was founded, but it must have been in the mid-19th century. We note the company handling Little Lord Fauntleroy suits, probably in the 1890s. We note that the company was active in the 1950s and 60s. They varried an extensive line of fashionanle clothes. One fashion writer in 1957 noted that Kays Thompson, author of Eloise autographed at Best & Company in New York where various Eloise products were available. We know that Best & Company was a major U.S. department store chain, but have little information on the companyat this time.
The ad copy reads, "Printed washable cotton crepe shirt, needs no ironing. Blue, maroonm green. Even sizes 6 to 16. ... 3.00"
The ad copy reads, "Cotton lisle shirt, white with navy neckband. Even sizes 6 to 16. ... 2.00"
The ad copy reads, "Tattersall checked cotton shirt. White backgrounds with blue, tan, or maroon. Even sizes 6 to 16 ... 3.50."
The ad copy reads, " Bold plaid gingham inner-outer shirt. Green, blue or maroon. Even sizxes 6 to 16 ... 3.50"
The ad copy reads, "Shir, cotton oxgord cloth. White or blue. Even sizes 6 to 16 ... 3.50"
Notice that jeans are still called "dungarees".
The ad copy reads, "Dungarees of navy blure cotton denim. Extra knee reinforcement. Even sizes 6 to 16. ... 2.60" Notice that jeans are still called "dungarees". Also notice the extra knee reinforcement. American boys were forever wearing out or ripping their pants at the knee.
These slacks wre made to match the jacket below (T544). The ad copy reads, "Matching slacks with back elastic. Sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 ... 3.95." Note the pants with elastic were not made in the larger sizes.
The ad copy reads, "Dungarees with detachable suspenders, reinforced knees. Navy blue denim. Even sizes 4 to 10. ... 2.65" The jeans with suspenders were just for the younger boys.
Khaki slacks in the 1950s were a staple for school. The ad copy reads, "Khaki slacks of study cotton. Sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 ... 3.75 Prep waist sizes 26 to 32 ... 6.50" The use of the term "prep" here means for boys of prep or preparatory school age. American prep schools were private secondary schools thus meaning bys of highschool or college (university) age.
The ad copy reads, "Slacks of washable rayon and cotton. Tan, blue or green. Sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 ... 5.50"
The ad copy reads, "Boxer slacks of cotton deni. Blue or brown. Sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 ... 2.95" Moxer slacks meant that the pants had an elastic waist band like a boxer's trunks.
World War II bomber jacket styling was popular.
The ad copy reads, "Faded blue denim jacket. Navy blue cotton knit trimmed neck, sleeve and waist. Sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 ... 3.95 Sizes 14, 16, 18, 10 ... 4.95" Note that "gaded" denim is being marketed in 1952. This denim one was much less exensive that an actual leather jacket.
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