Figure 1.--"Modes et travaux" in its October 1941 issue offered a pattern for a small boys' coat with double-breasted styling. The article calls it a "pardessus". The pattern was for a 5-year old. Note the gloves the boy is wearing.
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Figure 1.--"Modes et travaux" in its October 1941 issue offered a pattern for a small boys' coat with double-breasted styling. The article calls it a "pardessus". The pattern was for a 5-year old. Note the gloves the boy is wearing. |
Modes et travaux in its October 1941 issue offered patterns for several outfits and coats for younger boys and girls. The age for each garment is not specified, but they appear to be for children 3-6 years of age.
Modes et travaux was perhaps the most important French sewing magazine in the 1940s. During the German occupation after 1941, clothing became increasingly difficult to obtain. Thus sewing your own or your family's clothing became increasingly important. The title reads, "de jolis ensembles pour nos petits". That would translate as "fun outfits for our little ones". The author then goes on to describe nine different garments or outfits. The coat for a little boy described here is one of those outfits. The inference is that the coats shown would have been worn with the other garments on cold days.
Modes et travaux in its October 1941 issue offered pattern for two styles of outfits for little boys and a coat. The double-breasted coat is seen here. The other outfits also shown were romper suit and a fancy outfit. There were also several dresses and coats for little girls.
The ad copy for the fancy outfit shown here reads, "71: Ce pardessus de garçonnet est en lainage chevronné, la découpe se termine par un pli repassé. Métrage pour 5 ans: 1 m. en 1 m. 30." That would translate as "This small boy's overcoat is in cheviot wool the cut of the bottom hem finished by a pressed pleat." Measuring for a 5 yearold: 1 Mr. in 1 Mr. 30. "
The most common French word for coat is "manteau". We have noted this style referred to as a "manteau baby". The French use the term "baby" to mean younger children not just infants. "Modes et travaux" in the ad copy uses the term "pardessus"--another term for coat. We are not sure at this time just what specific attributes a "pardessus" has. A French reader tells us that "pardessus" and "manteau" have the same meaning. "Pardessus" is an older word that is rarely used in modern French. The French today would use "manteau" for coat.
A French reader notes that Modes et travaux in its issues during World War II used a number of strange or outdated words. "Combinaison barboteuse" was, for example, a term very little used . He tells us, "I think here is the only time I saw the term, perhaps itvwas used in the 1920s." "Pardessus" was another term which appeared in the magazine, it was an old word for "coat" (often used for a man's caot), but by the 1940s was rarely used.
Of course 1941 was during the War. Much of France including Paris was occupied by the Germans and the rest (Vichy) was subject to their authority. One suspects that the staff of the magazine may have changed. Perhaps some older personnel were hired.
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