Figure 1.--Rompers were very popular for younger children. They often came in two sizes, these were made for children from 2-6 years. These rompers were available from the 1922 Montgromery Ward 1922 catalog. Notice that they were made in blue and pink, suggesting that modern colors conventions were beginning to become established.

HBC has only limited informatiion at this time on the ages that boys wore rompers. HBC believes that there were primarily a garment for yonger boys--primarily pre-school boys. HBC does not have complete information on the ages at which rompers were worn. Rompers in the 1920s were, however, made through size 6. This means that some boys may have worn them after coming home from school. It is likely that rompers through size 6 was common in the early 20th century. By the 1930s the age at which boys wore rompers declined an they are now for infant boys only. Rompers seem to have appeared about the same time as rubber pants. As they were commonly made in the bloomer style, unlike trousers--they could easily accomodate a diapper and rubber pants and thus were a very practical garment for younger chilren. This was not the only purpose for rompers as they were made insizes well beyond that of toilet training.

Chronology

The age of children wearing rompers has varied over time. We do not have much informaion on the 1890s. I do not think that rompers were very common. We know much more about the 20th century. The age coinventions appear to have been fairly standard in the early 20th century. They were made in sizes up to about 6 throughout the early 1920s. The sizes began to decline in the 1930s. Modern rompers for boys are only made in infant sizes. It is likely that boys 5-6 years wore rompers more commonly as best we can tell in the 1900s an 10s, but this became less common in the 1920s and certainly the 1930s.

Gender

The age of children wearing rompers seems to have been ientical for both boys an girls, although our information is still limited. Unulike France, rompers in America seem to have been made for both genders. Noteably catalogs listing rompers through the 1920s do not show different ages for boys and girls or for blue and pink colors. This began to change in the 1930s when sizes for boys' rompers began to fall, but some school-age girls still wore them. This means that the styleof many if not most rompers was the same for boys and girls--only the color varied.

Types

Stores by the 1920s were offering two different types of rompers. The difference was primarily associated with the need to change the diappers of younger children.

Infants (to 2 years)

One style was available for very young children still wearing diappers. The material as well as the snaps an buttoms were made with the need of changing the diappers in mind. The age of boys wearing rompers began to decline in the 1930s and currently rompers are only made in these infant sizes.

Todlers (2-6 years)

Rompers were also made in larger sizes durig te early 20th century, normally to age 6 years. These were the common sizes in the 1920s. HBC is unsure about earlier sizes, but they probably were about the same. I am not sure how commonly 6 year olds wore them. We know they were made in sizes up to ae 6 years because of availble catalog offrings with size details in the ad copy. This of course was a major milestone age as children began school at age 6 years. HBC has noted that in the photographic record that it was more commonly younger boys. Most of our images of boys, especially the older boys, wearing rompers were taken around the home. This probably reflects where most snap shots were taken. We do note a few imges of 5-6 year olds wearing rompers away from hime, but they are not very common.

Figure 2.--Rompers were also made in infant sizes with suitable styling and material. These infant rompers/creepers are from a 1922 catalog. Note we hve rompers here with and without waistline.

Rubber Pants

Rompers seem to have appeared about the same time as rubber pants. As they were commonly made in the bloomer style, unlike trousers--they could easily accomodate a diapper and rubber pants and thus were a very practical garment for younger chilren. This was not the only purpose for rompers as they were made insizes well beyond that of toilet training.

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web chronological pages:
[The 1890s] [The 1900s] [The 1910s] [The 1920s] [The 1930s] [The 1940s] [The 1950s]

Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web style pages:
[Dresses] [Smocks] [Bodice kilts] [Kilts] [Sailor suits] [Sailor hats]
[Ring bearer/page costumes] [Shortalls]

Created: January 6, 2001
Last updated: 4:52 PM 5/13/2008