** underwear country trends France








French Boys' Underwear


Figure 1.--.

A French reader tells us that French children did not use the elaborate suspender waists to hold up their stockings. Rather underwear and blouses came with buttons. These could be used both to keep up stockings and pants, a style known as the button-on style. Untill about 1955 these models of undervests (undershirts) were used for children of both gender. Blouses with waist buttons were made longer than is the case today. A reader tells us, "In France there were less choices than in America. All the children had the same models. The big, very short white underpants were the most worn by the city's boy begunning in the 1930s. They were elasticated at the waist or buttoned at the under shirt." Another French reade reports, "Personaly I don't remember wearing this sort of undervest, but I did wear blouses with romper bottoms and later short pants and I rember that my blouses came with waist buttons which were used to keep up my pants. For France, I will develop this topic on three ways: - Baby from 1900 till today; Toddlers " "; and = Older boys " " . I will comment with some extract of catalogue or magazine. All the boy of France were wearing the same underwear. One can classify in three sorts : - City boys; - Country boys; and - Boys with particular attentive mother, of which were rather knited. It was the case for me, but not for my brother and sister."

Terminology

The French terms for underwear are a little complicated and have changed over time. In addition the same term has been used for both short pants and underpants. A similar confusion exists in British and American English. A French reader tells us, "In France untill 1940s , one said " culotte " instead " slip " for boys underpants. This word sounds more childish. The girls used the same word. We boys to avoid the confusion with the short pant would often say " slip ". This term is still used in France meaning underpants without legs or the Petit Bateau model. If we said culotte in the 1940s-60s, that could have some confusion with our short pant or the girl' underwear. Our mothers would, however, say " petite culotte " for underwear. Since the 1950s, men or boys underpants are called " slip ". The mothers or magazines in the 1940s-50s used both " slip " or " petite culotte " for boys' underpants."
Culotte: Can mean both short pants and girls' underwear. Since the 1970s, " short " has generally replaced " culotte when referring to short pants.
Culotte courte: This term is generally used for dressy short pants, the type used for the petit garçon model.
Petite culotte: Uderpants for baby boy/girl. Sometimes used by mothers for older boys and girls.
Short: This term (always short not shorts as in English) was commonly used for athletic or sport shorts, but since the 1970s has becone the primary term used for short pants.
Slip: The very short style (Petit Bateau model) of boys' underwear. This term became commonly used in the mid-30s and is still common.

Chronology

We have some information on historic French underwear. French art provides some information on medieval underwear, but there is little actual written documentation. French boys in the early 20th century were wearing some " caleçon " they were short leg underpants which would not show with short panrs. In the country or in cooler mountanous areas boys wore long " caleçon " durung the Winter. After about 1935 they were major changes. In the 1930s-50s there were thrre different types of underwear: 1) underwear in the country, 2) underwear for city boys ( petit bateau ), and 3) some underwear model for boys and girls from affluent families. ( One coul find the description in the magazines. ) The last category were knitted, sometime with a fancy look in which the boys' garmenrs were similar to that worn by the girls. All the underwear was done white coton. There was another change beginning in the 1970s. Some boys began wearing colored T-shirts and underpants. The brief ( slip ) Petit Bateau style of underpants were only worn babies and todlers. The older boys begam to wear the new " slip "model. The under shirt called here " Americain " model was widely adopted by German mothers.

Companies

A French reader writes, "The universal model for us, is the underwears " Petit Bateau " This trade marke dates from 1898. This brand is known by every French person, old, young, parents, ect. for more than a century. Today this brand of underwear are considered as the best brand of children's underwear. Today they make other types of clothing as well, but the principal products undershirts and underpants. Petit Bateau in 1918 created the " la culotte Petit Bateau " which quickly became popular for babies and children. The cut of this model had practicaly never change from 1918 and was also copied for the modern men after 1930. So all the french children , except some ones from the country were wearing Petit Bateau model from 1918 till end 1970 . In the 1940s the style also became popular for children in Austria and Germany."

Styles


Shirts

We notice refferences to an undershirt called " maillot de corps américan ". I'm not sure yet about the style.

Pants

A reader tells us, "In France there were less choices than in America. All the children had the same models. The big, very short white underpants were the most worn by the city's boy beginning in the 1930s. They were elasticated at the waist or buttoned on the under shirt." Another French reader reports, "Personaly I don't remember wearing this sort of undervest, but I did wear blouses with romper bottoms and later short pants and I remember that my blouses came with waist buttons which were used to keep up my pants. The Petit Bateau set underwear set are composed of a shirt and a little pant called " culotte " for the little child, slip for the boy and also culotte for the girl. To avoid confusion, mothers can say about the child: "petite culotte" to name the trunk and "culotte" to name the short pants. Before 1960, the shirts could have several buttons at the waist permetting to attach the trunk (in this time the mothers were affraid that the child could have the back bare; the legs could be in open air without problem , but never the back and the head in winter. For the child a bit older, the buttoning was not realy practical so the waist of the little pant was high and the legs was cut very brief. Boys short pants were often made without flys. The shirts were buttoned by 2 buttons in front and 2 buttons in back placed inside the short pant. The trunk till 5 years old could be buttoned on the undershirt. We boy were prefering this model over the boxer shorts that were more common for rural, less fashionably dressed children."

Ages

A French reader tlls us, "For France, I will develop this topic on three ways: - Baby from 1900 till today; Toddlers " "; and = Older boys " " . I will comment with some extract of catalogue or magazine. All the boy of France were wearing the same underwear. One can classify in three sorts : - City boys; - Country boys; and - Boys with particular attentive mother, of which were rather knited. It was the case for me, but not for my brother and sister."

Gender

The cut of underpants varied somewhat for boys and girls. The underpants for boys was cut more in a V shape for pratical reasons. Many boys in the inter-War era wore short pants which were becoming increasingly short. Many of these short pants were made without flys. Thus the V cut and short pants allowed a boy to releave himself without loweing his pants. This style of underpants was quite common for boys under 12 years of age through the 1960s.

Button-on Styles

A French reader tells us that French children did not use the elaborate suspender waists to hold up their stockings. Rather underwear and blouses came with buttons. These could be used both to keep up stockings and pants, a style known as the button-on style. Untill about 1955 these models of undervests (undershirts) were used for children of both gender. Blouses with waist buttons were made longer than is the case today.

Material

The underwear Petit Bateau were hygienic, easy to wash , not expensive. They were made only in white cotton, the mostly with a ribbed weave. The ribbed 2/2 material gave a sort of streching characteristic to the fabric. Some boys could wore underwear knited in white coton, but with the same cut as the Petit Bateau model. They could even be knitted in fancy way ( almost alike the girl model ...) for little boys from affluent families and fashion conscuous mothers.

Personal Accounts

A French reader writes, "My sister and my brother had worn Petit Bateau. My underwear ws similar in style to Petit Bateau, but knitted by a woman. My Father also was wearing underwear Petit Bateau model. Here are underwear sets I wore as a boy about 1947-5. It is odd feeling to me seeing these garments. I was little boy when I was inside ... more as 50 years ago. They were few worn . I remember I changeing every day. I have select on the image the typic model I wore. I have also got the Petit bateau model, probably when I went to Nice; a bit later I only wore the models seen in the image. I perfectly remember them. I have also set with ankle socks. All the french boy 1940-70 were wearing this sort of underwear. Some were Petit Bateau model, others knitted more or less fancy; always white ."






HBC





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Created: April 12, 2003
Last updated: 11:25 AM 5/4/2021