Anticipating Christmas 

"Chris:  I've worn union suits since I was a little boy. All my life actually. I don't ever even remember wearing standard pj's. To this day, I've always slept in just my underwear. Growing up in rural Wyoming, underwear is what me and my dad and most boys and men wore and continue to wear to bed since forever. 

Anyway, I very recently ran across a video taken by my dad years ago using his now ancient movie camera. He caught me initially unable to sleep on Christmas Eve. Here I am wearing a union suit as pajamas, sitting up in bed, and anxiously listening for a visit from Santa Claus. I thought I'd share with you these special pictures (to me anyway) which I was able to save as separate photos from my dad's film.

...Merry Christmas, Ian Sanderson of Cody, Wyoming." 

                               

"Hearing a noise outside and with heart pumping, I jumped out of bed, threw off my blankets, and ran to my bedroom window:

 

"And looking outside, I listened for sleigh bells and Santa's approach to my house! 

Yep, that's me as a boy in my long union suit underwear! 

"Seeing nothing, I returned to my covers, finally falling asleep,

 "nestled all snug in my bed while visions of sugar plums danced in my head."

 

"Good night and Merry Christmas!"

Ian sent his heart-warming memory, captured on camera, to me in an email this week. With the approach of Christmas, I thought it appropriately worthy to share with you that which for many of us, is a most meaningful holiday, celebrating the birth of our saviour, Jesus.  

Friends, I'm taking a couple of weeks away. In the meantime, email me your Christmas photos and I'll see you right back here at the end of December.

"God Bless Us All, Everyone! ...Chris Ayers

Royal Underwear 

Have you ever wondered what kings, emperors and princes wear under their regal robes? Not likely, huh? Well, that's one of my jobs here at Union Suit Fan. Taking a serious look at that which others, including monarchs, wear under their clothes. 

I'm in the process of researching this question, as in my past postings of Presidential Underwear: Kennedy, Lincoln and sons, Coolidge, Harding, and Teddy Roosevelt and sons. Look for my upcoming under cover findings regarding the underwear worn by such royalty as Charles, King of England; Prince of Wales' William; Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands; and Felipe, King of Spain.

During my past various visits to the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany, I knew to travel, packing and utilizing at the miniumum, my "combinations" (union suits), wool socks, a rain coat and umbrella. Even traveling in the summer time to these countries the weather much of the time was cool if not right down cold, blustery, cloudy and rainy. I suspect the Royals, living in these conditions wear long underwear like I did on my visits there. Although, I witnessed no snow as I do frequently here in northern Idaho, I was always fortunate in remembering to bring along my union suits on those trips to Europe. 

Coming soon then, a discourse on Royal Underwear to be found on my companion blog, Union Suit Fans in the Limelight.

So far, I've only found likenesses of King Charles and the Prince of Wales in their boxer shorts. But, surely long-handled combinations are worn by them some of the year!

(Above, Walt Disney's Prince John of England having been stripped of his gold, rings and even his royal robe, leaving him with little else besides his crown and long royal combination underwear.)

Superstitious Sport Fans 

Just trying to figure out if some of us sports fans are Superstitious or just down right Crazy, or Both. Many atheletes, fans, and couch potatoes have specific things they do or wear prior to participating in or watching sports. A basketball player may wear the same shorts every game while he's on a hot streak. A baseball player may fidget with his gloves between each pitch. Some athletes and fans have special socks they wear for games. My brother has a special pair of team inspired boxer shorts he wears to pro football games. 

Take these two buddies for instance. They are not only Sports Fans they are Union Suit fans. What's crazy about that!! They may live miles apart but you won't find them watching their favorite team on TV wearing anything other than their long red underwear!  Those union suits help ensure that their team wins or at least plays their very best, hopefully without injury!! 

And with college and pro football gearing up this time of year, you can bet they will be in front of their television sets, comfortable in their union suits!

And this guy in his red union suit looks like his team just won an important game:

Just don't drink so much beer that you doze off and miss the end of the game!!

What do you wear superstitiously when it comes to sports? 

What?!  Another Ghost Verse?

There once was a ghost who thought that his host

        Should stock only Napoleon Brandy.

By imbibing all night, he became awfully tight.

         Oh that spirit of mine such a dandy! 

In despair, he did cry, when his bottle ran dry,

         Dozing off on the stair, in his Long Underwear.

This latest Ghostly Poem was inspired and written by Illinois' Retro Jeff upon his realizing the spirit in a white union suit who haunts his home devloped a taste for brandy! Retro emails:

"Chris: My resident doppelganger has taken to spirits as captured by my infrared night time camera. As shown, he was caught in the act, emerging from my attic into the dining room for a night cap in his night cap and white long underwear.

After noticing the level in my brandy decanter was gradually decreasing during the night, I decided to set a trap. Soon, I captured my ghost pilfering from my crystal liquor vessel kept in the dining room of my home. He apparently was in the habit of returning triumphantly to the attic for a couple nips before returning the bottle to its rightful place in the dining room, all before I awakened in the morning.

This night, he didn't quite make it back to the dining room before falling fast asleep. 

 

Since the decanter had been emptied, I surmised he drank more than his usual and had crumpled to the bottom steps of my staircase in a dead heap. When I awoke the following morning, he had disappeared, but I now had evidence to this mystery!

But, what's the harm? I now make sure I keep enough brandy for the both of us to enjoy! ...Retro Jeff"

 Don't get caught this winter without your Long Jawns!! 

"When it's cold as a kegerator outside, you need a smooth and delicious winter lager to warm up your insides. So button up your trapdoor, and get ready to hibernate, because it's gonna be a Long Jawn winter." 

 

Those winter warning words come from Yards Brewing Company of Philadelphia. Beer drinkers in the City of Brotherly Love know Yards has been brewing great beer for the past 30 years. They guarantee their brew is lovingly made for the "hardworking people of Philadelphia." 

Recently, I ran across Yards' amusing take on a tasty, satisfying winter lager, featuring a characture wearing a long red union suit. I found him while searching for the latest Burn 'Em Brewery ads like these shown below. These ads inquire whether you got your "Long Johns On." 

Other of their ads announce each year's Winter Warmer Bash! 

 

(Check out my previous Burn 'Em Brewing January 12, 2023 posting with more of their clever red union suit clad skeleton ads.)

If you enjoy beer as much as I do, and what union suit wearer doesn't, you'll really appreciate this hearty Yards Brewing Company's soul struggling through the cold in knee deep snow while carrying a bucket of Long Jawns Lager.

No doubt he's thankful he has on long red winter underwear to protect him the harsh Pennsylvania winter. I imagine he's determined to reach his buddy's lodge, seeking a respite from the inclement weather. 

When in Philadelphia, you'll want to stop by Yards Brewwing Company for a tour and drink. Oh yeah, be sure to wear your red long handle union suit like their beer ambassador featured on every bottle and carton does! 

Long Jawns comes in cans too, which cleverly show the back of a red union suit, butt deep in snow, 

with the rear escape hatch properly buttoned up!

RC knows how it is to be outside clearing snow while wearing his Long Johns, thinking of that refreshing ice cold Long Jawns beer!  No doubt he keeps his trap door buttoned for the ultimate protection from chapped cheeks!  Right RC?!

It's Finally Halloween 2024!

You know what that means! It's time for you to join in the festivities by pulling on your favorite long underwear (for fans that would be union suits, what else), as you create your own Halloween Costume for Trick or Treating!

At Union Suit Fan, it's time for another Custom Costume Carnival...What will you be wearing tonight?

 

Thanks to the fans who participated in their Long-handled Halloween Underwear this year. If you've created a union suit costume, snap a photo of you in them. Then email the result to me and I'll add you to this year's group pictures: cayersnd@gmail.com

Only Two More Days Left

for you to submit a union suit costume photo to Union Suit Fan in order to join other fans and me in the annual Halloween Costume Carnival. It's simple, really. Just devise an outfit featuring your favorite underwear, I'm guessing a union suit.

Sleep on it and I bet you'll come up with something great to share with union suit fans everywhere!  Don't get caught snoozing. Act now!

 Forward your photo to: cayersnd@gmail.com

Union Suit Fan's Custom Carnival 2024

Time is running out for your participation in this year's Halloween Party. Submit your best union suit costume in the next few days to join other fans in this blog, Union Suit Fan.

Here are some past year participants.  Don't be a party poop, get your Halloween picture to me today. Then view this year's Halloween Treat posting on October 31st! Send to cayersnd@gmail.com

 

 

 

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....