Salutations depuis la France, en caleçon long.

Jérôme in his Longue Caleçon

Earlier this month, my favorite Frenchman, Jérôme, was one of those featured in the Union Suit Fan posting for National Underwear Day, August 5th. He happily joined us Americans in celebrating this recognized holiday. France is the United States oldest ally. And these days, the French are still joining us in their long buttoned-down underwear.

Jérôme has a large collection of union suits. He surpasses the dozen or so one-piece combinaisons that I own and wear. He emailed me recently of venturing outside on a hot day in France in just a favorite union suit of his:  

"That day, I took advantage of my wife being away to get dressed and go out like that; she doesn't understand why I’d wear long underwear in warm weather—plus, that purple union suit is a bit too thick for the heat. It was 28°C (82°F) that day; I do sometimes wear them in temperatures up to 30–32°C (86–90°F), but lighter ones. Jérôme"

Thanks Jérôme Union Suit fraternity!  

    

Wash day:

 

  

Stanfield's Fit Much Better After Washing

So many of you have purchased and swear by the quality, warmth and fit of Canadian Union Suit Manufacturer, Stanfield's, that I continue to feature photos, articles and ads over the past ten years in this blog. I have recommended them to those of you who have emailed asking what kind of union suits you should buy. 

One blog follower who contacted me over the past year in this regard was Artie up in Maine. Upon my suggestion, he ordered Stanfield's on-line and eagerly anticipated their arrival. He had been unhappy with his other union suits.

When the Stanfield's combinations arrived, his package exhibited a white premium union suit (which is no longer offered by the company). But inside, the underwear he ordered was red. 

So soon, I imagine, he opened the new package and pulled them on! But, hmmm....

The fit was, well, look for your self:

Well, the quality was good, the underwear was warm but the length of arms and legs were too long, the crotch extended too far down, and he ended up with a really baggy seat. Ole Artie didn't want to be known as "droopy drawers" and could not help being disappointed!  He sent me the above photos of him modeling the new union suit and commented:

"The Stanfield union suit is much better quality than the Indera, buttons well attached and an overall nice feel. The sizing on the Stanfield’s is different, the torso is extremely long giving them a “droopy drawers” feeling. Maybe the fit will be better after a wash and dry.  My Indera’s fit better.  I’ll definitely wear the Stanfield's to work but I probably won’t wear them to bed with my wife. She would find them more humorous than sexy....Artie"

Not overly discouraged, Artie wore his bulky long handles, washed them, wore them, washed them and before too long, they fit him very well. He emailed:

 "I’ve always been a white long johns guy.  I did get a wash and dry on the Stanfield’s. They fit so much better. Feel really good....Artie"

After I inquired again last week how the suit was working out, he emailed me this updated photo... 

"Chris I love my Stanfield’s ! After a few washing’s they fit much better. I put them on this morning and took a photo for USF. Last winter was the coldest in 30 years and the Stan’s were my go to union suit. Wish I could get them in white. Hope all is well. Artie"

So, my New England Union Suit buddy, is satisfied with his long underwear purchase: I supposed I'll be able to continue advising "new-bees" to our union suit fraternity that they can have confidence in ordering and wearing Stanfield's....Chris

National Underwear Day - Recognized in Canada too

Opening up my email today, I had been sent an ad which this company does from time to time, 

published last week, from Stanfield's....the major Canadian manufacturer of quality underwear: 

National Underwear Day Starts with Better Basics - Stanfield's

On National Underwear Day, we're celebrating the pieces that work the hardest in your wardrobe—the ones that keep you comfortable through every season, every routine, and every adventure. ​ Quality underwear isn't just another purchase. It's something you'll appreciate every time you get dressed. I've added some favorite ads of my favorite underwear, union suits, that I've received over the years.  Many of you have purchased, wear and sworn by Stanfield's combinations. So email photos of you in your Stanfield's (yes, I know it's still hot most places but it won't kill you) and I'll post you in them here.

Today is National Underwear Day, August 5th

Time to Strip and Strut your Stuff! 

I ain't kiddin' around!
It's hot in August,
so I'm cranky 'cuz I'm
wearing Long Underwear!

Cranky, hot, and out of sorts! It's not my fault
 that National Underwear Day
falls in August, Union Suit Fans!














                                 

 Coach who wears Long Underwear 24/7,
                                365 days per year (+1 more day in leap years)
                                                    is my nominee for..... wait for it....

                                          The 2026 National (Long) Underwear Day
                                            Spirit Award!! 
                                  
                                           Any one can wear their boxers or briefs
                                                            sans undershirts on National Underwear Day. 
                                                     But my money is on our fellow Union Suit wearers!
                                                     Now those fans are worth celebrating  
                                                  no matter what the weather!
                                                      

Celebrating National Underwear Day
in a purple Union Suit (Combinaisons)
and raising a glass in France!  

 

Thanks Jérôme

 

Retro Little Guys' Healthknit Union Suits 

 Union Suit Fans, thought you'd get a kick out of this Healthknit Thermal King packaging with little union suit wearing cartoon characters printed on it: police officer, army man, fireman, and train conductor...circa 1950's and early 1960's when union suits were still widely worn by lots of men!  Outdoor workers needed "Extra Warmth" thermal underwear.....before global warming.  Anyone remember seeing or purchasing union suits in this package?!  Fun!

As many of you know, if you've been viewing my postings over the years, my grandma took me shopping at Sears when I was a boy and bought me my first union suit. I wanted long underwear like cowboys wore. We found a "close out" sale of men's union suits for only $2.00 per suit. There were no little cartoon dudes on the package that I got. Rather, my package had a picture of a man in a union suit looking quite pleased. It would have been quite the treasure to have a package like these. That early union suit and the many I've purchased and worn since, with only two exceptions, have not been the waffle weave as the one pictured herein. Never-the-less, I would have loved to have one like this if only for the package!  

The second union suit I puchased myself and wore extensively was a red Healthknit 100% cotton union suit with white striping like the one pictured here.  Standard Knitting Mills of Knoxville, Tennessee manufactured both of the union suits in this posting and most of the union suits bought and worn by U.S. men and boys in the 20th Century.

  

The white thermal Union Suit packaging with tiny workers above was contributed by Union Suit Fan, Retro Jeff of Illinois