Short Sleeved, Short Legged Union Suits?

8/22/11 Update: Found exactly what this reader was looking for, courtesy of another reader. Check out the Chock Sleeveless Style Union Suit (Style # 850us).

Sleeveless knee length union suit. Featuring a reinforced collarette, rib knit cuffs and anklets to retain snug-fitted shape and seal in body heat. Crew neck button front.
100% combed cotton. Sizes: SM, SM, MD, LG, XL, 2XL. Made in the USA. Price: $24

– Original Article –

If you asked me a couple years ago if I thought I’d be answering questions about men’s undershirts, I’d probably look at you a little weird and then check to see if your straight jacket was still on tight.

Here’s a question from a reader about a type of vintage undergarment:

Where can I find the short sleeved/short all in ones they used to make years ago?
-D

vintage union suit (or all in one)

Truth be told, I wasn’t sure what an “all-in-one” was, so I asked “D” and he said it was like a Union Suit, but with short arms and legs.  Not realizing what a Union Suit was really, I turned to my good friend Google and Wikipedia to refresh my memory:

A union suit is a type of one-piece long underwear. Created in Utica, New York, United States, it originated as women’s wear during the 19th-century United States clothing reform efforts, as an alternative to constricting garments, and soon gained popularity among men as well. The first union suit was patented in 1868 as “emancipation union under flannel.”[1] Traditionally made of red flannel with long arms and long legs, it buttoned up the front and had a button-up flap in the rear covering the buttocks (colloquially known as the “access hatch”, “drop seat”, “fireman’s flap”, and other names), allowing the wearer to eliminate bodily waste without removing the garment. Depending on the size, some union suits can have a dozen buttons on the front to be fastened through buttonholes from the neck down to the groin area.

Ah, now I knew what “D” was referring to. But where the hell would I find what he’s looking for?

Flash back to Nov 2008 when a reader asked me about an undershirt that was worn in the Flyboys Movie of 2008, and I realized I had a good lead.

old vintage ad for union suit from sears

This is what I sent back to “D”:

ah, gotcha. here’s a couple of options:

1. fogey unlimited – a great site with lots of vintage type products for men. they’ve got some union suits, and one that is very similar to what you are describing (vintage style athletic one piece), but it appears to be out of stock. you might want to call or email them to see if they have what you’re looking for. alternatively, you can buy a union suit they carry in your size and then have the shirt sleeves and pant legs cut off and hemmed.

http://www.fogeyunlimited.co.uk/acatalog/Union_Suits_Combinations.html

2. find something else close online, even if does have long arms and legs and have them shortened like I described above. any dry cleaner that does alterations should be able to help you or, if you prefer, find a local seamstress via a site like craigslist (or similar).

Hopefully I’ll hear back from “D” and he’ll tell me he found what he was looking for.

Update 3/29/11 – Thanks to Rick for telling us about Vintageskivvies.com. Found some great pictures of Athletic Union Suits on their website, and just emailed the company to see if they still offered them.

Athletic Union Suit from Vintage Skivvies - Photo 1

Athletic Union Suit from Vintage Skivvies - Photo 2

Tags: all in one underwear, athletic one-piece union suits, athletic union suits, featured, knee length union suit, short legged union suit, short sleeve union suit, sleeveless union suit, union suit, vintage underwear

Category: Ask Tug