Long Stocking Supporter Types: Over the Shoulder Styles


Figure 1.--This ad appeared in the "Boys' Outfitter" in 1919 stressing the flexibility of the Sampson Susppender Waist made by the Knothe Brothers.

Some stocking supporters were over the shoulder supporters. They sypported a waist from which suspender-like appendages that were attached to the stockings. The waist could also be used to hold up a boy's trousers or a girl's skirts. The over the shoulder style was reportedly superior to the older style of waist supporters which reportedly caused the child to stoop. Advertising stresses the freedom of movemnent possible when using this stype of stocking supporters. We know that these suspender waists were commonly worn. They were extensely advertized in mail order catalogs during the eatly 20th century. One common brand was the Samson Suspender waist made by the Knother Brothers in New York (figure 1). There were, however, many other manufactures. A.W. Wilson was another manufacturer which made the Wldson Hose Supporter. There was also a Kazoo stocking supporter. One report suggests that this type was more populasr with boys than other stocking supporters because they were more like the uspenders that thir fathers wore. One aspect we are not sure about is that some of these over-the-shoulder types are called suspender waists and others hose supporters. We are not sure if these are different terms used for the same item or represent two different assessories. We note that that some of the suspender waists are labeled for boys. We are not precisely sure why or what features made these suitable specifically for boys because most ads show both boys and girls wearing hose suporters.

Terminology

One aspect we are not sure about is that some of these over-the-shoulder types are called suspender waists and others hose supporters. We are not sure if these are different terms used for the same item or represent two different assessories. The terminology is a bit confusing. When speaking of a "suspender waist", the original intention was not to refer to the suspender as a garter but to the suspender as a means of supporting trousers. It is the "waist" part of the compound word that refers to the gartering function. The later garter waists that had over-the-shoulder straps (like those shown in the Sears 1939 ad and like those that I myself wore as an older boy) were not called "suspender waists" because they were not designed in the main to hold up trousers. Some of these later over-the-shoulder garter waists (not all) did come with buttons around the waistband and functioned like pantywaists (for trousers, bloomers, panties, etc.), but these were not manufactured specifically for boys like the original suspender waist. The Kazoo ad (1918), which appeared in the Good Housekeeping magazine and which you have in an earlier e-mail attachment, shows three different styles of "suspender waists"--the original kind with actual trousers suspenders built into it (worn by the older boy) and two modified kinds for younger children, both boys and girls, which don't have attachments for trousers (except for the waist buttons).

Chractristics

Some stocking supporters were over the shoulder supporters. They sypported a waist from which suspender-like appendages that were attached to the stockings. The waist could also be used to hold up a boy's trousers or a girl's skirts. The over the shoulder style was reportedly superior to the older style of waist supporters which reportedly caused the child to stoop. Advertising stresses the freedom of movemnent possible when using this stype of stocking supporters.

Types

We note two different types of these suspendr garments. The Samson suspender waist seen here are a combination garment. The waist was to hold up the boy's trousers, but there were also hose supporters (figure 1). The Kazoo ad, which has both girls and boys wearing suspender waists, illustrates a point that I think needs to be clarified. The suspender waists for older boys are designed with attachments for trousers. This model was not for girls who did not wear suspenders to hold up skirts. The Samson model is ONLY for boys and therefore makes no mention of girls at all. The Kazoo suspender waists were made (in different models) for both boys and girls, but the girls' models did not have leather attachments at the waist like those for the older boys. The Kazoo advertisement makes this difference quite clear. The Kazoo models for girls and younger boys had buttons around the waist which could be used for other clothing--possibly skirts or knee pants--but I think they were mainly for panties, bloomers, etc. and functioned pretty much like panty waists. Only older boys wore the type of suspender waist with leather attachments at the waist for trousers. And of course the term "panty waist" was applied only to boys--that is, older boys who had not yet graduated to the type of waist with leather trouser-suspender fixtures at the waist that looked more like what their fathers wore.

Popularity

We know that these suspender waists were commonly worn. They were extensely advertized in mail order catalogs during the eatly 20th century.

Companies and Brands

One common brand was the Samson Suspender waist made by the Knother Brothers in New York (figure 1). There were, however, many other manufactures. A.W. Wilson was another manufacturer which made the Wllson Hose Supporter. There was also a Kazoo stocking supporter.

Gender

One report suggests that this type was more popular with boys than other syocking supportetrs because they were more like the suspenders that thir fathers wore. We note that that some of the suspender waists are labeled for boys (figure 1). We are not precisely sure why or what features made these suitable specifically for boys because most ads show both boys and girls wearing hose suporters. We believce that the principal reason was that suspender waists were designed to hold up a boy's trousers. This was not needed for girls wearing dresses. These waists could be used to hold up skirts, but until the 1920s, skirts were not very common. Girls mostly wore dresses.







HBC






Related Hosiery Pages:
[Return to the Main stocking supporter type page]
[Return to the Main hoisery page]
[Knee socks] [Tights] [Long stockings] [Striped socks] [White stockings]



Navigate the Historic Boys' Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossary] [Satellite sites] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]




Created: May 20, 2003
Last updated: May 22, 2003