Oshkosh Bib Overalls

OshKosh bib overalls are a comfortable, casual, affordable clothing item produced by the OshKosh B'Gosh company. The overalls are traditionally made of denim and consist of loose, jeans-type pants and a bib-shaped top that fastens around the shoulders. They are available in many varieties and fabrics, including khaki, olive green, and the conventional denim.

While overalls used to be fashionable for both children and adults, they're now more commonly seen on toddlers and young children, particularly boys.

OshKosh B'Gosh was founded in 1895 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The company originally manufactured sturdy work clothing for adult men. In the early 1900s, they began manufacturing their famed OshKosh bib overalls for babies and young children so that the kids could dress like their parents. After the children's overalls were featured in a national advertisement, sales skyrocketed, and OshKosh expanded its line of children's clothing and eventually began manufacturing only children's products and accessories. Since 2005, OshKosh B'Gosh has been part of the Carter's family of brands, another well-known manufacturer of children's apparel.

There are many knockoffs of the traditional OshKosh overalls available, and it's easy to find a wide variety of styles. Here are some of the more famous features and especially notable styles.

One notable and useful feature of OshKosh's bib overalls is the many pockets. Usually, the overalls have at least eight pockets—two large ones in the front, two smaller ones behind the front pockets, two back pockets, and at least two pockets in the bib area. These pockets are handy for kids who love nature, as it's easy to slip a special rock, twig, or even a tiny living creature into an overall pocket.

Some styles are "carpenter overalls," which include a loop on one leg (as for a hammer). This style may also include additional pockets by one or both lower legs. Though girls sometimes wear carpenter overalls, they are mostly made for boys.

These overalls are for girls and have a skirt at the bottom of the bib area instead of pants. They include the usual pockets and are still most often made of denim, although they come in traditionally feminine colors such as pink and purple, as well as the standard blue denim.

These are a shorter, sometimes lighter-weight version of the normal bib overalls. Instead of having pants below the bib area, they have shorts. This style is very popular and can often be seen on toddlers and other children during the summer months.

If you'd like to pick up a pair of these overalls, it's best to take along the child for whom you're purchasing them so that you can ensure the best fit and comfort. If the child is young and growing quickly, it might be worthwhile to buy overalls in a size or two bigger than normal so that the child can grow into them, since these overalls are very rugged and tend to last a long time.

Look for high-quality fabrics with securely attached buttons and no rips or tears. Make sure the child finds the overalls comfortable and that he or she will actually wear them. Since so many brands besides OshKosh are available, you may want to shop around and have the child try on several different brands and styles to find a favorite.

You won't have to look far to find a pair of these sturdy overalls for a kid you know. Find them at most department stores, including Macy's, Kohl's, Dillard's, Boscov's, and TJ Maxx. Here are other places to buy them:

1. eBay – eBay lists many new and gently used pairs of bib overalls for children and adults.
2. Sears – This department store has OshKosh overalls available to order through their site.
3. JCPenney – JCPenney has numerous varieties of kids' overalls for sale in stores and online.

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