Petit Echo de la Mode Toddler Outfit Sewing Patterns, April 1950


Figure 1.--These patterns were was offered in the "Petit Echo de la Mode" April 1950 issue to make four different styles of toddler outfits. Two are in the romper are barboteuse style. All the ones shown are for boys. The rompers were for boys up to 4 years old.

This pattern was offered in the "Petit Echo de la Mode" April 1950 issue to make these different styles of toddler outfits, both baboteuses and reguar shorts set. The caption at the tops says, "Les petits s'amusent", Meaning "the little ones are playing".

Petit Echo de la Mode

HBC is just beginning its assesment of French fashion magazines. We do not yet have detailed information on these magazines, including L'écho de la mode. We know that the magazine was published in the 1930s, but do no know when it began. We know this December, 1949 article shows that it was published in the 1940s and presumably the 1950s. We have noted an item from Le petit écho de la mode advertising dressy romper patterns for "garçons modèles". The title of the magazine was changed after World War II. A French reader reports that Le petit écho de la mode was a very popular magazine read for the average French mother. It was not a high society fashion magazine. To day this magazine still exist with the title Echo de la mode. A HBC reader reports that as a child he and his brother were used as models for this and other French fashion magazines.

Orientation


Four Styles

The pattern illustration shown here could be used for four styles of toddler outfits.

31.247

The ad copy reads, "Costume en toile de laine composé d'une culotte montée dans une ceinture, d'un bolero à manches longues et d'une chemisette à plis repassés. (2 à 4 ans . Costume: 0m.75 en 140. Chemisette: 0m.95 en 80.)" This would translate as, "Suit in wool fabric made up of short pants with a belt, a bolero (short) jacket with long sleeves and a short-sleeved shirt with ironed folds. (2 to 4 years. Suit: 0.75 m in 140. Short-sleeved shirt: 0.95 m in 80.)" This is the boy pictured at the extreme left in the green suit. Note the crease in the short pants. In France 1930-1968 the fashion was for there to be a visible crease in short pants. The French say "plis repassés" or "plis marqués". The latter is more accurate and a more contemporary way of sescribing creases. A French reader tells us, "For example, during 1930-1960, short pants had visible pleats. So we said "culotte à plis marqués". In the 1950s a fashion appeard it was "les culottes de laine à plis marqués". They were very popular. My brother and I wore this style of shorts. The short pants were short and in grey or blue wool-cloth with suspenders and cuffs without flies. The two pleats on the legs were sewed; so they were being more visible . This short pants gave to the boys a small look of "enfants modèles" The sizes were from 2 till 10 years old. This short pants could be worn avery day and the as well as on Sunday with a nice white blouse." Note the use of "chemisette" or little sgirt. This generally maent a plain shirt. "Blouse" or "guimpe" was often used to mean a blouse or shirt-like garment with a particularly juvenile cut or with fancy trim.

400.401

The ad copy reads, "La culotte de ce costume en toile se boutonne sur une blouse garnie d'un col et de revers en mème tissu ou en piqué. (1 à 2 ans. Costume: 0m.90 en 140 . Garniture: 0m.20 en 90.)" This would translate as, "The short pants of this outfit in "toile" cloth are buttoned on a blouse finished with a collar and reverse in same fabric or piqué (stiched). (1 to 2 years. Costume: 0.90 m in 140. Trimming: 0.20 m in 90.)" This is the boy in the white outfit only partly shown at the bottom of the illustration. Piqué was a special white cloth for children clothes. This white cloth was very popular with mothers for children's clothing.

30 528

The ad copy reads, "En Vichy, barboteuse ornée, devant et dos, d'un empiècement droit retenant un groupe de plis repassés. (2 à 4 ans . 2 mètre en 80 )" This would translate as, "In ginham, rompers trimmed, in front of and back, of the straight area beneath the yoke of pleats. (2 to 4 years. 2 meter in 80.)" This is the boy in the middle of the illustration in the diamond pattern romper suit.

400.328

The ad copy reads, "Gentille barboteuse en toile de soie dont l'empiècement devant et de dos, est travaillé de smocks. Ceinture nouée au dos. ( 2 à 4 ans. 1 m.80 en 80.)" This would translate as, "Nice rompers in silk fabric of which the area beneath the yoke in front of and of back is worked with smockings. Waistbelt ties in the back. (2 to 4 years 1.80 m in 80.) This is the boy in the romper suit at the extreme right of the illustration. This style is the clasical French romper suit worn by pre-school boys during the 1940s and 50s. Note the large bow tied at the back. It was very popular with mothers. It was in fashion a very long time and even returned again in early 1980s for younger boys. It can still be bought in the 2000s at luxury boutiques.

Assessment









Christopher Wagner





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Created: March 20, 2002
Last updated: March 27, 2002