Figure 1.--The magazine "Votre Mode" in March 1956 offered patterns for these two styles of wool rompers, both for 2 year olds. The title read "Barboteuse gilet et culotte". They were pictured in red and yellow. Click on the image for the sewing instructions.

We were confused about the title of this magazine. At first we thought it was Votre Mode Mars was a popular fashion magazine. We do not have a lot of information about Votre Mode Mars yet. The title would translate as Ours Mars Fashion. I don't understand the reference to Mars. An English reader explains, "One other thing I've just noticed on the French Fashion Publication page. Mars in French means March, the month as well as Mars. So the last magazine mentioned Votre Mode Mars would translate as "Your March Fashions" ( votre is "your", our is "notre"). So the magazine is obviously for the new Spring fashions, which was important in France--especially for children as they changed from Winter to Summer wear and often got new outfits for Easter. ( It used to be similar in England at Whitsun - but I don't think fashion, at least for children, was taken asseriously here as it was in France)." A French reder has since explained, "A little precision, this magazine is called Votre Mode" meaning 'Your Fashion'. The magazine began publishing in March 1947. We have noted romper patterns in 1956 issues so we know that the magazine was still active in the 1950s.

The March 1956 isue offered patterns for boys' rompers. These were Spring-Summer rompers, notice the short sleeves. Curiously the patterns were often for a very specific ages such as romper suits for 2 year old raher than a range of ages. This magazines carried many sewing patterns. We do not have a lot of information about this magazine yet. A 1956 issue showed patterns for two styles of wool rompers, both for two year olds. The title read "Barboteuse gilet et culotte". They were pictured in red and yellow. One was a true romper or "barboteuse" and the other was a "gilet et culotte" which means vest and shorts, but the garment shown is clearly a one-piece romper-like combination. Both had the caracteristic bloomer style romper pants. We have loaded the first page of the pattern for HBC readers interested in sewing details.