Boys' Shirts: Button-on Shirts


Figure 1.--These button-on shirts were available in sizes up to age 10. They were made in white, tan, and blue and offered by Sears in their 1929 catalog.

Some shirts for boys in the 19th and first half of the 20th century were made in the button-on style. This means that the shirts relatively large button sewn at the waistline. These buttons could then be buttoned onto the boys pants, usually short pants, making a belt unecessary. This style was considered practical for younger boys. The button on-shorts were generally made in sizes up to about 10 years of age, occasionally for larger sizes.

Chronology

Some shirts for boys in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century were made in the button-on style. I'm not sure precisely when butto-on shirts first appeared. I have noted them as early as the 1910s, but it could have been earlier.

The 1860s

We notice a lot of boys wearing button-on shirts in the 1860s. This was a major way younger boys held up theor pants. A good example is two American brothers.

The 1910s

No information available yet.

The 1920s

Sears offered two button-on shirts in its 1929 catalog:
Button-on style: Very practical waists [shirts] with large buttons at the bottom to button to the little pants. All fast color cotton broadcloth materials. Lined collar and cuffs, sleeve fastenings. Open cuffs to button. Long sleeves and regular style collar. Good quality buttons. They launder well. Sizes--4 to 10 years. State age size. Tan pastel shade broadcloth. Postpaid ... $0.69. Blue pastel shade broadcloth. Postpaid ... $0.69. Plain white broadcloth. Postpaid ... $0.69.
Popular style: An extrondinary opporunity to save on the little fellows' waists [shirts]. Button-on style with large buttons at bottom to button to pants. Will wash and launder well. Open cuffs to button. Lined collar. Sizes--4 to 10 years. State age size. Novelty pattern Doby weave cotton broadcloth. Postpaid ... $0.67. Dressy rayon stripe woven cotton broadcloth. Postpaid ... $0.85. Plain blue chambray. Postpaid ... $0.65.

The 1930s

No information available yet.

The 1940s

American boys continued to wear button-on shirts in the 1940s, primarily the early-40s. A good example is a Du Barry shirt/blouse pattern made at least to size 10 years in 1940. It was shown with an Eton-styled collar.

Style

This means that the shirts relatively large button sewn at the waistline. These buttons could then be buttoned onto the boys pants, usually short pants, making a belt unecessary. Button-on shirts were normally cut short and made without tails. As the shirts buttoned on to the pants, there was no need for long shirt tails.

Buttons

The buttons involved wee almost always larger than the other buttons on the shirt. I'm not positive, but I think button on shirts just had front butoons. The large front buttons were the most common arrangement. Usually the buttons were white, often contrasting with dark colored pants. There were also button-on shirts with colored buttons.


Figure 2.--These short pants were made in the button-on style for sizes up to age 10. They were offered by Sears in their 1929 catalog.

Ages

This style was considered practical for younger boys. The button on-shorts were generally made in sizes up to about 10 years of age, occasionally for larger sizes.

Pants

One style of pants popular in the 1920s-40s was "button-on" pants worn with the button-on shirts. This is the pants that have eyelets so as shirts with waist buttons can be buttoned right on to the pants. It was much the same idea as the skeleton suit of the early 19th Century. Almost always the pants in the button-on style were short pants. Little boys have very slender waists which means there is nothing to keep their pants on. Buttoning the shorts on to the shirt held them up. Another alternative for little boys was suspender shorts.







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Created: May 31, 1999
Last updated: 9:28 PM 8/30/2011