Intrigued...found this on the web...
"Gay Sprites (girls) and Merry Mites (boys) were top quality brands sold at high end department stores like Neiman Marcus, B. Altman and Saks 5th Ave. These brands are what "society ladies'" children wore when out and about and Merry Mites was featured on a child on the cover of Times Magazine. One thing that made these brands unique was "the tricky use of seams, suspenders and tabs, which allow them to be let out easily so the clothes can "grow" with the wearer."
"Back in the 50s, travel was a glamorous thing. Only the rich could afford to fly and even to those with the money, it was still a big deal. Mothers dressed their little darlings in Gay Sprites and Merry Mites and tucked personal goodies into their Lucille de Paris bags to put on their very best show at the airport."
I personally (as a nyc based fashion designer and naturally minded mom) love them because they are 100% cotton, come in great colors not always offered for little girls (anyone else sick of pink!?) and the rompers let girls keep up with the boys on the monkey bars."
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I don't remember wearing any "Merry Mites"...and now I am a "Gay Sprite"...</span>
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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">George</span>