Miscellany Mondays: "I just made you say underwear"

Staying warm when the weather is cold with Dr. Dentons, union suits, and onesies

From a favorite of mine, the Bare Naked Ladies’ 2000 song “Pinch Me,”

I could hide out under there
I just made you say 'underwear'

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It’s October and the weather here in New England has definitely turned from the last lazy days of summer to brisk and chilly fall. Today’s story was inspired by this advertisement for Dr. Dentons from the October 7, 1921 Andover Townsman.

Andover Townsman, October 7, 1921

My kids called them “footie pajamas.”

A few years ago, I was startled by the appearance of a “Onesie Pub Crawl” in Boston and swarms of adult pub-crawlers dressed in mostly animal-themed adult onesies.

Whatever you call them, the Dr. Dentons children’s blanket sleeper has been a popular cold-weather garment since 1865.¹

“Dr. Denton is a (historically) well-known brand of blanket sleepers, formerly manufactured by the Dr. Denton Sleeping Garment Mills of Michigan. The Company was founded in 1865, initially as the Michigan Central Woolen Company. From the late 19th Century through the first half of the 20th Century, the Company was one of the most popular manufacturers of blanket sleepers in America.”

1920s advertisement

There are a few versions of how the Dr. Denton sleeper got its name. The first story attributes the name to Whitley Denton, who was an employee of the Michigan Woolen Company. Whitley Denton was posthumously awarded a patent for the garment in 1898.

Another version of the story says that another man named Frank “Doc” Denton came up with the design by sewing socks to the ends of his children’s pajamas.

“Dr. Denton’s name eventually became a genericized trademark thanks to the Garment’s overwhelming popularity. While the original Dr. Denton manufacturer is no longer in operation, others use the trademark in selling Dr. Denton Garments.”

The knitted pajamas that Doc Denton would have sewn socks onto were known as “union suits” or “long johns.” Union suits, like Dr. Dentons, also feature a rear drop flap to make trips to the bathroom easier – and warmer – on cold nights.

A non-footed union suit in the History Center’s collection, ACHC #1995.507.611

Whatever impression we have of union suits, they were actually created and patented in 1868 as “Emancipation Under-Flannel.” As part of the Progressive Era’s Rational Dress Movement, the wool flannel union suit was a comfortable and warm alternative to women’s restrictive corsetry.

Later in the 20th century, the union suit became more closely associated with menswear, where it morphed into swimming and boxing attire.

Today, for work, for play, for sleep — and apparently pub crawls — Dr. Dentons, union suits, long johns, and onesies are still common cold-weather garments in cold climates women, men, and children alike .

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this post.
~Elaine

1. https://www.cultureify.com/the-dr-denton-blanket-sleeping-garment-the-footie-pajama-and-the-onesie-history/