Sailor Suits: American Styles--Vintage 1930s Suit


Figure 1.--This vintage sailor suit was probably worn in the 1930s by an American boy. Note the short sleeves. The two piece set was a short pants suit and made in the button-on style. Even though it is a button-on suit, there ar also belt loops to accomodate a belt also. It was light blue with dark blue detailing and white buttons. Clickon the image for a back view.

Here we have boy’s vintage sailor suit from the 1930s. It’s a light weight, summer blue cotton sailor suit for a little boy. The suit has short sleeves ith end with cuff that has been setailed. The two piece set was a short pants suit and made in the button-on style. Even though it is a button-on suit, there ar also belt loops to accomodate a belt also. It was light blue with dark blue detailing and white buttons. The dark blue dickey was sewn in with white stripes. The collar and dickey detailing has six rather than the traditional three stripes. There was a rank insignia emrodiered on the sleeve. in with The button-on style was very common for boys up to age 10 in America after World War I (1914-18). The suit had a pocket on the left chest. It measures 19 inches in length and 10 inches across the shoulders. The waist is 23 inches around. I'm not sure what age boy woulkd have worn a 23 inch waist, but we think that it would be school age boy, probably about 9 years old. I think that in the 1930s that it became increasingly uncommon for all but the youngest boys to wear sailor suits to school. That does not mean that a boy up to about age 8-10 might not have a sailor suit to wear for other occassions.

Chronology

Here we have boy’s vintage sailor suit from about the 1930s. We are not positive about the date. It was an estimate from an e-Bay seller.

Material

It’s a light weight, summer blue cotton sailor suit for a little boy. Not only is it light-weight material, but the short pants and hort sleeves are another indicator that it is summer suit.

Description

The suit has short sleeves ith end with cuff that has been setailed. The two piece set was a short pants suit and made in the button-on style. Even though it is a button-on suit, there ar also belt loops to accomodate a belt also. It was light blue with dark blue detailing and white buttons. The dark blue dickey was sewn in with white stripes. The collar and dickey detailing has six rather than the traditional three stripes. There was a rank insignia emrodiered on the sleeve. The suit had a pocket on the left chest.

Button-on Style

Notice the buttons at the waist of the shorts. These buttoned on to the blouse. This button-on style was very common for boys up to age 10 in America after World War I (1914-18). Button on styling was a popular style for school clothes. The style declined in popularity in the 1950s, except for very young boys.


Figure 2.--The sailor suit has an embroidered rank insignia on the sleeve. The dark blue detailing has three wnhite stripes rather than the six white stripes on the collar.

Size and Age

It measures 19 inches in length and 10 inches across the shoulders. The waist is 23 inches around. I'm not sure what age boy woulkd have worn a 23 inch waist, but we think that it would be school age boy, probably about 9 years old. I think that in the 1930s that it became increasingly uncommon for all but the youngest boys to wear sailor suits to school. That does not mean that a boy up to about age 8-10 might not have a sailor suit to wear for other occassions.






Christopher Wagner





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Created: January 19, 2003
Last updated: January 19, 2003