Figure 1.--"Modes et travaux" in its November 1941 issue offered a pattern for this play suit. The pattern was for a 6-year old. Note the button-on styling, puffed sleaves, and ruffled short cuffs. The ball in the net stresses that it is a play suit. Even so, note the strap shoes and white kneesocks. |
Modes et travaux in its November 1941 issue offered patterns for several outfits and a suit for younger boys as well as cloaks that could be worn by boys and girls. The age for each garment is not specified, but they appear to be for children 4-6 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, "Filles ou Garçons aiment le Capuchon". That would translate as, "Boys and girls like capes", stressing the capes that appeared on the same page as the little boys' outfits. The author then goes on to describe six different garments or outfits. The fancy outfit for a little boy described here is one of those outfits. The inference was that the outfits shown could have been worn with capes in rainy weather.
Modes et travaux in its November 1941 issue offered pattern for two styles of outfits for little boys. One was the play suit button-on outfit seen here. The other was a plainer fancy button-on outfit. There was also a suit for a slightly older boy as well as various capes.
The ad copy for the fancy outfit shown here reads, "71: Ce petit garçon porte un costume en lainage à carreaux, la culotte se fixe à la blouse fermée par une patte boutonnée qui accompagne le col termimé par un plissé ainsi que les revers des manches. Métrage pour 6 ans: 1 m. 35 en 1 m. 20". That would translate as "This little boy wears a woolen costume in a square pattern, the short pants fixed on the blouse closed by a buttoning part which accompanies the collar terminated by one [?folding/pleat] as well as the [?reverses] of the sleeves. Measuring for 6 years: 1 Mr. 35 in 1 Mr. 20 "
Note that with the play suit the child is pictured with strap shoes and white kneesocks. Yet with the fancy outfit the child wears short socks and lace up shoes.
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