Halloween 2024 

is just around the corner so it's almost time for another Custom Costume Carnival. I'm asking all fun-loving Union Suit Fans to participate in my annual Halloweeen Costume Party to be posted on October 31st as we've done in the past. 

Send me your scariest, funniest, unique, or comical photo for one of the best holidays of the year. Masks are optional.

Now, don't delay! Pull on those union suits, snap a picture or before you know it, the big day will be here and you'll be left out in the cold. Come on! Join the fun!   ... Chris   cayersnd@gmail.com

P.S. Only photos will be posted...no names, hometowns or any other ways of identification. 

"Girls Wear 'em too, you know!"

Chris, within the title and opening sentence of your union suit blog, you say "an entertaining blog featuring men's and boy's long one-piece underwear aka union suits."

Well, I'm hear to tell you that a few of us women wear union suits too. In fact they were first introduced, manufactured and worn by us before you fellas begin thinking, "hey, that looks like pretty warm and comfortable undies!" 

So, as colder weather approaches don't forget about us. Speaking for myself, I wear union suits too and my hubbie, thinks I look pretty sexy in them.

Love ya and love your blogs, Barb, Clayton, NM." 

Barb!  Thanks for your email. And, you are right! There's several accounts as to how union suits got their start. This popular long underwear originated as women's "unmentionables" during the mid 1800's, created in Utica, New York. Women grew tired of wearing constricting undergarments. So, union suits were patented in 1868 as "emancipation union under flannel."  They were tranditionally made of red flannel, one piece, with long legs and arms. The long underwear buttoned all the way up the front and had a handy button-up flap in the bum. Very similar to the union suits we wear today.

They do look sexy on the fairer sex. And, on occasion as in "Curls," posted June 8, 2020, I've included women in my blogs decked out in their union suits, including this pleasing to the eye gal: 

And there was these girls, best friends, posing in their "emancipation" undergarments I featured in this blog: 

In past postings, I've included women and girls in union suit family photos:

So, yes ma'am! 

I get your drift, Barb. It's true, my union suit blogs primarily feature men and boys in their "long one-piece underwear."  Going forward, I'll search out and post more women like these union suit fans....

More Ghosts 

Whom among us union suit fans remember The Scooby-Doo Show from our younger self days. It was one of my favorite cartoon shows back then. Did you know an early planned title was The Scooby-doo Dynomutt Hour? Eventually, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! was chosen that first season, airing in 1976 on ABC Television. Yes, it has been 48 years since the scaredy cat dog and his boy, Shaggy Rogers, made their debut. 

The final episode of that first year was "The Spirits of '76."  Apparitions in this epiode were not of 1976 but of 1776. Sort of a two hundred year look back in history, Scooby-Doo style. This story found the Doo Gang touring Washington, D.C., seeing all the local sites before ending up at the Splitstonian Institute. 

The famous museum was haunted, of course, and included the "ghosts" of William Demont, Benedict Arnold and Major John Andre among other notable historical figures. Neither of these three were colonial heroes so they were put on display as conspiring traitors of one type or another. 

As usual, the gang arrived at the institute on a "cold and stormy night." Rain, lightening and thunder abounded. The kids soon discovered something was amiss. They proceeded on a convoluted conquest. One of the first clues? The uniforms of the wax dummies were purloined from the three traitors, leaving them standing there undressed in just their union suits

 

This was quite the mystery. Who had absconded with the period clothing of the museum's wax figures. And now, how were these dummies suddenly discovered in the basement wearing only long red underwear?!  

Why did the "ghost" of Benedict Arnold slam the door, leaving the Doobies locked up in the basement? Was the gang able to conclude a crime was being committed? And, if so, were those responsible apprehended? Did the wax figures get their clothes back? 

These and other questions can be answerd by watching this episode on any number of streaming services to see the melding of history with the disloyal wax dummies in their union suits. Fun!  

Take a look back at my four previous "Ghost" stories in Union Suit Fan, check out my recent posting of August 30, 2024.

Ghost Arising from His Mausoleum:

Ghost in the Attic
Posted April 5, 2023

Ghost in the House
Posted April 15, 2023

 

The Ghost of Colonel Sanders
Posted April 28, 2023 

Union Suit Fans: This will be my last posting for awhile as I am planning on taking a sabbatical for the next month. I'll return in October for more great Union Suit Underwear postings, comments, stories and photos. See you soon and get ready with me to "Get 'Em Buttoned!! 

Cold Realities: Prepare or Get Caught Short

David Lais of the Old Farmer’s Almanac warns we "should either stock up on long underwear or patch any holes in our existing suits of long johns or do both."  Breathlessly, he cautions, "I repeat, update your winter wardrobe soon with several suits of warm long underwear. There’s a good chance that union suits will be in short supply come January."

Is a September Surprise in store for us?  Fall comes a callin' today! Don't let it ketch ya not wearin' your longhandles! The first day of fall is today, Sunday, Sept. 22nd. The autumn equinox official beginning time: 8:44 a.m. That means, Jack Frost is just around the corner for nearly all of us. In fact, snow is falling in the Rocky Mountains at this moment. Better have your union suits washed, dried, ironed and ready to wear. 

Prepare now for a cold winter to avoid being surprised!! If not, when winter knocks on your door, you'll be caught unaware without enough underwear ( the long, buttoned-up, back door variety, that is) to get you through the coming months.

 

Don't procrastinate. It's Union Suit time!! 

A Modern Day Frontiersman: South Dakotan, Charles Davis

This ambitious guy built his own house in the beautiful woods of South Dakota's Black Hills.

Now early mornings, Charles can enjoy a hot cup of coffee in his union suit on his covered deck, overlooking some of the most breath-taking scenery in America. 

Charles emailed that he discovered Union Suit Fan in the past year while searching the internet. He has worn union suits for the past three years and discovered that which the rest of us know, one-piece long underwear is comfortable, warm and pretty darn fashionable. Not to mention fun. 

He said: "I started building my place outside of Deadwood, South Dakota and the first winter all I had for heat in the cabin was a wood stove. Needless, to say the nights were cold and the mornings were chilly until the fire was up and going. I picked up a union suit and immediately enjoyed the fact that it never came untucked and when you are sleeping, it did not bunch up like thermal tops do, up under your arms."

This union suit fan has five brothers, yes five, whom he may gift each of them a union suit for Christmas. Great choice! I told Charles my wife gave her three brothers and me bright red union suits for Christmas a number of years ago. We all put them on immediately that morning and enjoyed their warmth and comfort all day long and for years later. 

Welcome, Charles, to our brotherhood of union suit fans! ...Chris