Bib overalls

I grew up wearing bib overalls. The name sounds nostalgic now, but they are actually still quite fashionable.

Bibs were the best as a kid. You could slip them on over any t-shirt or blouse. They had ample pockets to hold all your treasures. And you never had to worry about pulling up your pants!

For a girl, there were some disadvantages. They were a bit ill-fitting since designed for a boy’s body shape. I also remember they were slightly more inconvenient when using the bathroom, but that never seemed too bothersome.

I had the blue and white stripe type, and many pairs of the traditional blue denims. Oshkosh, of course, was a well-known brand, especially for those of us living in the upper Midwest. The Oshgosh B’Gosh company was founded in 1895 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, originally as manufacturer of the sturdy, striped overalls for railroad workers and farmers.

But it was the pint-size version of the bib overalls, especially in traditional blue denim, that made the company survive and thrive for more than 100 years. If you were a child of the 70s, 80s or 90s, you grew up in Oshkosh!

In 2005, OshKosh B'gosh joined the Carter family, another well-known children’s label. Together, they remain two of the oldest, largest and most-recognized brands of baby and children's apparel in the world.

I often wonder how I’d enjoy wearing overalls as an adult. It’s rather ironic that many celebrities wear them. Apparently not only are they comfy and functional but also stylish and, dare I say, trendy.

By gosh, I guess I was way ahead of my time.