Simplicity 3954 - Girls' and Misses' Ski Suit

1940s

There is finally snow in the mountains, so it's time to wax up the skis and head out.

Here's Simplicity's description of this ski suit pattern.

The hip-length jacket buttons snugly down the front.  Gathers at shoulder yokes are smart and allow ample room for action.  The sides are belted and there are two large convenient patch pockets.  The long sleeves are roomy and gathered to a wristband.  The trousers are dart-fitted at the top, close at the left side with a slide fastener, and finished with attached belts which buckle at the side.  Welt pockets at front add a neat note.

The description fails to mention that the legs of the trousers can either be pegged with darts, in which case slide fasteners are inserted, or left loose.  An elastic band can be sewn in to keep the legs over the boots.

Recommended fabrics include corduroy, waterproof poplin, gabardine, flannel, serge, novelty woolens.  In this case, the flannel is assumed to be wool.  Although the illustration shows only solids, you'd get a snappy effect by making the jacket in a plaid and the trousers in a solid to pick up a color in the plaid.

Although the jacket is lined, you'll probably want to wear a heavy sweater under it.

This unprinted pattern is unused.

Patron-Modèle 100055 - Costume Sport

1950s

Translates to "Anorak and ski pants."

The rather laconic description on the back of the envelope can be translated as:

Front-opening jacket with an applied plastron; gathered hood; ski pants.

The jacket is gathered at the waist and wrists.  The ski pants have pockets, and the legs are darted and fitted to bands.  Woolen or worsted fabrics would have been used for both the anorak and the pants.

I assume that your hankie and the French equivalent of a Chapstick go in the little front pockets of the anorak.

And in case anybody was wondering, we now appear to have documentary evidence that the French wore mittens.

Patron-Modèle 400934 - Anorak et Pantalon fuseau en gabardine pour homme

1950s

Translates to "Man's jacket and gabardine ski pants."

Patron-Modèle seems to have been the "house brand" for the women's magazine Lé Petit Echo de la Mode.

The description on the back of the envelope translates to:

The anorak has patch pockets and is fitted to the waist with elastic.  Turned down collar; set-in sleeves.  Removable hood.  Ski pants.

"Pantalon fuseau" can also be translated as "pegged pants," but the intent is clear; these trousers have a narrow leg to help keep the snow out and to tuck into the ski boots, which would have looked about like this (I suspect that these laces are much later replacements.)

From www.vintageskiworld.com

It's interesting that the description indicates a fabric choice of gabardine, which is a sturdy twill fabric made of worsted yarn.  The anorak would have been made out of a woolen or worsted fabric as well, and I might add a silk lining for a little extra warmth, although the pattern doesn't call for a lining.

As was true for the earlier Patron Modèle that we saw, there is no separate instruction sheet.  The maker is expected to use the illustrations on the front and the description of the pattern pieces on the back of the envelope.

Note the crotch gusset for the pants, necessary for sportswear in the years before stretch fabrics were introduced.

Although there was no instruction sheet, this pattern included a one-sheet that mostly contained advertising geared to home sewing, but had a few general instructions, and a helpful sizing chart.   This size 44 is equivalent to about a 38" chest.