Modes et travaux Matching Romper-Dress Sewing Patterns, 1957


Figure 1.--

A French sewing magazing in December 1950 offered this design for a matching boys' romper and girls' dress. A Modes et travaux sewing magazine in November 1957 had a coordinated pattern for a brother and sister. Rompers for the boys and an almost identical dress for the girl. Actually the two garments are pictured together betcuse the pattern can be used for both dress and rompers--only the bottom is different. Mothers with a boy and girl can make matching outfits. The romper is a traditional one's ; one piece ; buttoning at the back and with button at the crotch .( Notice the drawing shows 3 buttons in front which are only for decorating) Those models were easy-making even without a sew-machine.

Modes et travaux

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 et garçons en été.". That would translate as "Girls and boys in summer". The author then goes on to describe patterns for several Summer outfits for younger boys and girls. The age for each garment is not specified, but they appear to be for children 4-6 years of age. There were both dresses for girls and short sets for boys, including the two garments seen here. There were also coats for a boy and girl.

Play Suit

Modes et travaux in its June 1, 1941 issue offered a pattern for a Shantung silk play suit outfit for little boys which looked rather like shortalls worn with a blouse. Note the side buttoning, the tappered waist, and slant pockets. The pattern shown was for a 5 year old. The boy's outfit is called a "cutlotte-combinaison", meaning combinatin shorts. This is usually used with two-piece outfits and was not uniquilly used to describe shortalls. It is probably used here because despite the fact that the boy's shorts are a one piece garment, they include both the top and bottom. They are clearly much more than a version of suspender shorts or even bib-front shorts. I have not notoced a destinctive French word for these shortalls-like garments. This is a rather early appearance of shortalls. I'm not sure if shortalls were being worn in America yet.

Ad Copy

The ad copy for this pattern read, "Voici quelques toilettes d'hiver pour un climaf doux qui ne se limite pas à la Provence, bien sûr. Dans toutes les régions chaudes de la France ou d'Afrique du Nord, vous porterez des vêtements chauds, mais légers." This would translate as, "Here are some suits for a mild climat which is no limited at the Provence ( south France) of course. In all mild region of the France or north-Africa, you will wear those warm clothes but light." The pattern is described as, "64 196. Dans la même pochette: robe et barboteuse en flanelle lavable boutonnées au dos. La jupe de la robe est formée de lés froncés à la taille. (2 à 4 ans. Robe: 1,85 m en 80. Barboteuse: 2 mètres en 80.) Existe 1-2: 64 195." This would translate as, "???."








Christopher Wagner





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Created: October 19, 2001
Last updated: October 19, 2001