Dear Ms. Candida,
You may know that I was brought up by three aunts, a boy arriving in a house of women. They knew little about boys, which was perhaps understandable. Boys' clothes, hobbies or thoughts were foreign to them. Nor did they seem to much care. Clothes for school and best wear, I was marched to a boys' outfitters and left to the staff. Easy, school uniform, or a navy blue suit for Sunday. The other items were left to a lady, who had a general drapery shop, catering for male and female undergarments, etc.
Out to play, then, I wore my old clothes but in the house even old clothes become worn and unserviceable. When I was 7 to 12, a nice compromise was reached, what they called a 'sIipover' - made from a cut down ladies' petticoat. No, not a fancy one, the material, from memory, seemed to be a sort of woven woollen mixture. Drab and uninviting, both to wear and to look at, brown, green and grey, I had from time to time. Built-up shoulders, I think you called wide strapped petticoats and these were 'taken up' so as the top of the slipover would not be too low. They never actually fitted: lengthwise ok, but width, they were like mini bell tents, a source of considerable embarrassment to me, when visitors came, but they soon became accustomed to seeing me thus dressed. Underpants, vest, slipover and my school gym shoes. Thus bare legged, for socks wore out too. In winter I was allowed a jersey, over the slipover, as, of course, I was bare armed too.
Came the day when even a thickish womans' petticoat looked a bit 'off' on a boy. Suggested by the drapery lady: FLORAL OVERALLS. All the fashion for ladies then, and so it was decided they were for me. Easily washed and ironed when dirty, overall protection from spillages, etc, I endured a selection of these too. At least they had sleeves, buttons at wrist, two pockets, smocking at the breast and button fronts. The last two buttons never fastened, so I learned to sit like a girl and not be immodest. No crossed legs, etc. Some of the patterns were, to say the least, garish, the first I shall never forget, a bright and sickly green background with a pattern of large daisies on it. Small women's I started at, and got to the women's size before I was through with the overalls. Quite proud I was, at one stage, as my overall was the same as worn by my schoolmistress in class. Same design, Michaelmas daisies on a pink background.
Not a punishment but a ladies' practical solution to a problem, smart, comfortable, easily washed etc, lots of young girls wore them at home, why not me? I say not a punishment, not intended as such, but most unpleasant for a boy. Overalls were preferable to the original 'slipover' though, as they hadn't fitted properly, too much boy on view. No jersey allowed with an overall however, as it covered me up nicely.
I hated them originally, but grew to like changing to a 'girlie' form of dress, especially accentuated by the bare legged look. I don't think floral overalls are still produced but I still like 'fancy' ladies' overalls for there are a lot of nice ones around, and I often wish those of today had been available back in the late thirties, early forties. A bit more uniform-like than flowers on a gaudy background. Now I toy with the idea of getting an overall and wearing it at home in the same fashion, I could be just as embarrassed now, as then.
Lack of thought by aunties, maybe not, they had them, so why not me, to fit the pattern of the household? Today's are smarter, not quite so feminine in cut or appearance, so maybe I will buy one just to experience again the thrill of feminine dress. Underwear, an overall, and training shoes. Nice!
John L. Soutar