Figure 1.--This Studio Mignot post card was made about 1952. The boy is about 4 years old. He wears a blouse with puff sleeves and a Peter Pan collar with suspender shorts. His sister wears a typical little girl's dress. Their mother probably made both outfits. In making these postcards, the children wore thor own clothes, not studio costumes.

We have little information on French blouses in the 19th century. French boys in the late 19th century appear to have worn blouses with large, usually buttoned buttoned collars. The Fauntleroy style with large lace and ruffled collars were very popular in France. They were long sleeved blouses woth collars matching wrist cuffs. By the 1910s the sizes of the collars had declined and some boys began wearing open collars. Blouses became very common for boys, beginning with the 1920s. We notice images from the 1920s showing boys wearing fancy blouses with long sleeves. Even as late as the 1920s, the collars on these blouses could be quite elaborate. This style continued in the 1930s with youngers boys were wearing fancy blouses, often with short puffed sleeves. The short sleeve blouses, like the post card shown here from the 1950s (figure 1), were very popular from the 1930s through the 1950s. A French reader informs us, "The card in fact just as easily could have been from the 1930s or 40s because this style was absolutly the same. The sizes through 6 years was very fashionable and could bought in boutiques or by mail. Many Paris stores such as "la redoute offered them." Most of the blouses we note during this period are sdhort sleeve styles, often with puff styling. This style was especially popular after World War II (1939-45) in the late 1940s and early 50s. Collar styles ranges from plain to fancy. Fancy blouses for formal occassions were very popular through the 1960s, but since the 1970s have declined in importance. Blouses are now worn onkly by infant or todler boys and girls.

The 19th Century

We have little information on French blouses in the 19th century. French boys in the late 19th century appear to have worn blouses with large, usually buttoned buttoned collars. The Fauntleroy style with large lace and ruffled collars were very popular in France. They were long sleeved blouses woth collars matching wrist cuffs.

The 20th Century

By the 1910s the sizes of the collars had declined and some boys began wearing open collars. Blouses became very common for boys, beginning with the 1920s. We notice images from the 1920s showing boys wearing fancy blouses with long sleeves. Even as late as the 1920s, the collars on these blouses could be quite elaborate. This style continued in the 1930s with youngers boys were wearing fancy blouses, often with short puffed sleeves. Practicly all French boys 1-6 years from the 1930s till 1950s living in city worn these blouses, especialy on Sunday or for special occasions. Many boys from affluent families, especialy in 1936-1955 were dressed in the petit garçon styles. Such boys might wear these blouses until 8-9 or less commonly 10 years of age. the short sleeve blouses, like the post card shown here from the 1950s (figure 1), were very popular from the 1930s through the 1950s. A French reader informs us, "The card in fact just as easily could have been from the 1930s or 40s because this style was absolutly the same. The sizes through 6 years was very fashionable and could bought in boutiques or by mail. Many Paris stores such as "la redoute offered them." Most of the blouses we note during this period are sdhort sleeve styles, often with puff styling. We note an unidentified French boy wearing a blouse with puff sleeves and a Peter Pan collar inthe late 1930s. He looks to be about 5-years old. This style was especially popular after World War II (1939-45) in the late 1940s and early 50s. These blouses had both front and back buttoning. The younger boys had back buttoining styles and the older boys front-buttoning styles. Front buttoning even for younger boys became more common after World War II, especially by the 1950s. Collar styles ranges from plain to fancy. Fancy blouses for formal occassions were very popular through the 1960s. From middle 1950, the puff/balloon sleeve were less current for boys boys 6-8 years. We note blouses being offered by le Redoute in 1959. Since the 1970s have declined in importance. Blouses are now worn only by infant or todler boys and girls.

Created: March 16, 2002
Last updated: 6:21 PM 10/24/2007