Figure 1.--Deauville was the most popular and fashionablr beach resort close to paris. The boy here is doing a little net fishing. Hewears bif-front rompers. The photigraoh is undated, buylooks likecthe late-1930s, primarly because of the formal clothes we see in the bavkground.

Older French boys, at least older pre-school French boys, began wearing rompers about 1936. The French term is barboteuse. The note the term beingb used in the early 1930s, but for a variety of younger boy outfit with regulsar short pants rather then the puff pants foe which rompers became known. An example here is the French department store Au Bon Marche in 1935. This change took place throughout France. In France was according "Congès payés" rompers were used primarily as a play suit for boys. ["Congés payés" means paid vacations. Guess here it could mean: With introduction in France of paid vacations and resulting extended free time for whole family, rompers were used primarily as play suit for boys.] A new more "puffed" style appeared in 1937, offen buttoned at the crotch. The classic romper appeared in 1938. It was a one-piece suit with both legs and sleeves puffed. The expanded bloomer effect or puffyness ("bufante"?) was stlistic inovation which appeared after 1935/36. They often had "col Claudine" collars (a rounded collar with little ribbon knot). The rompers were worn both with and without embroidery. Some were worn with smocks, but many were worn by themselves without smocks. They usually buttoned at the crotch. They were cut very short. This classic style was worn by French boys without modification until 1965-1968. We notice a 1939-40 sewing oattern for a romper suit.