bunny hug (bunny-hug)

[Douglas G. Wilson]

A glance at the newspaper archives reveals that in the 1950's and
early 1960's there were many women's (and some children's) clothing
items advertised under the name "Bunny Hug" (generally the name of a
certain product or style, apparently not the name of the company),
including jackets, dresses, robes, slippers, scarfs, gloves, hats,
etc. I would speculate that one of these (probably used originally as
a trade name for a sweater/jacket style) was genericized. Usually the
name would seem to connote "cozy" or so. In some cases there was fur,
or a rabbit-tail-like pompom.

Here are a couple of interesting examples:

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_Winona [Minnesota] Daily News_, 26 Sep. 1963: p. 10:

["Togs 'n Toys" advertisement]

<<Cozy New 'Bunny Hug' Tinkletoes Go Outdoors [picture of small child
in hooded jacket] Look what's new from Wonderalls! Famous Tinkletoes
go outdoors for winter in cuddly orlon pile. 'Bunny Hug' hooded
jacket and matching bell-toed bootee pants in pastel design ....>>

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_Anniston [Alabama] Star_, 29 Aug. 1963: p. 3-B:

["Mason's" store advertisement]

<<[picture of woman wearing sleeved zippered hip-length jacket with a
hood up] ladies' orlon pile / BUNNY HUGS / $3.57 without hood / with
hood .... 4.57 / Orlon acrylic hugs with cowl necklines. In 4 button
cardigans or zipper fronts. ....>>

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And here is an example of attributive "bunny hug" used something like
"cozy" (I think), applied to a hooded sweater:

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_Appleton [Wisconsin] Post-Crescent_, 14 Dec. 1959: p. B3:

["Grace's Bridal Shop" advertisement]

<<"Ivy Shag" / Sweater / $12.98 / For fancy skiing or just plain
she-ing ... [sic] the bunny hug warmth of 100% brushed wool and
mohair in tri-color stripes . . . [sic] with up hood or down collar
.... [picture of woman wearing sleeved pullover sweater with hood up]>>

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-- Doug Wilson


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