Vintage American Sailor Pants (1900s)


Figure 1.--Here are the ppants to a blue sailor suit. They have a drop-front and a wide leg style.

Here we have a pair of navy blue sailor pants, part of a sailor suit. They were sold in an estate sale, but we have no idea about the date. The dealer suggested that they were Edwardian, meaning that they dated from the 1900s. They were drop-front (sometimes called a "fall front") pants with six buttons. The buttons were also done in navy blue with anchors. They had a 21” waist and were 21” long from waist to the bottom hem. The pants had an 11 ½” inside leg pants length. Around the waist there are 4 buttonholes for suspenders or more likely garter waists. The dealer wasn't sure about the material, but thought they feet like lightweight wool. The drop front styling is notable because before the turn of the century many trousers, especuially boys' trousers had this construction. After the turn of the 20th centiry it began to become less common. The exception was for sailor pants where it was often retained, primarily for stylistic reasons. The pants are done in a wide-leg slight bell-bottom style. The pants are unlined.

Garment Details

Here we have a pair of navy blue sailor pants, part of a sailor suit. The pants are done in a wide-leg slight bell-bottom style. The pants are unlined.

Chronology

They were sold in an estate sale, but we have no idea about the date. The dealer suggested that they were Edwardian, meaning that they dated from the 1900s.

Size

They had a 21” waist and were 21” long from waist to the bottom hem. The pants had an 11 ½” inside leg pants length. I'm not sure what age boy that would have been.

Drop-Front Styling

They were drop-front (sometimes called a "fall front") pants with six buttons. The buttons were also done in navy blue with anchors. The drop front styling is notable because before the turn of the century many trousers, especuially boys' trousers had this construction. After the turn of the 20th centiry it began to become less common. The exception was for sailor pants where it was often retained, primarily for stylistic reasons.


Figure 2.--Here is the waistline of the drop-front sailor pants. Note the six buttons with anchor decorations. Click on the image to see how they open and close.

Waist Button Holes

Around the waist there are 4 buttonholes for suspenders or more likely garter waists.

Material

The dealer wasn't sure about the material, but thought they feet like lightweight wool.









HBC




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Created: 2:16 AM 9/13/2005
Last updated: 2:16 AM 9/13/2005