Figure 1.--The September 1926 issue of "La Mode pratique" here shows a fashionably dressed other with her two children. The boy wears what looks like a double breasted sportsjacket with short pants. Because it looks chilly he has a warm scarfe and leggings to keep warm. |
A French reader tells us, La Mode Pratique was a very popular fashion magazine in France." We are not sure, but believe it is a fashion magazine, or possibly a sewing magazine. We know that the magazine included patterns. We have few details on the publishing history of the magazine at this time. We do note that it was published as early as the 1910s. The issue here is dated 1926. We do not yet know, however when it was founded or ceased publication. It appears to have had considerable information about children's clothing. We do know that it was published throughout the 1930s-40s and into the 50s.
We do not have a great deal of information about the content of the magazine yet. We believe that there were patterns and articles on fashions. One such article, Leurs Atours, appeared in a 1947 issue and suggested that the appropriate dress for younger boys was a roimper outfit and a short pants suit for older boys. There were also articles about hair styling.
A 1913 issue of L Mode Pratique shows younger boys wearing bloomer knicker and kneepants as ell as button-on suits. All the illustrations show the youngr boys with over the ears hair styles.
The September 1926 issue of La Mode Pratique shown here has a fashionably dressed other with her two children (figure 1). The boy wears what looks like a double-breasted sportsjacket with short pants. Because it looks chilly he has a warm scarfe and leggings to keep warm. He is carrying books, suggesting that mom has picked him up after school to go shopping. This rather unsusual. We have noted realtively few images of Frenmch children wearing short pants with leggings as pictured here.
One fashion article, Leurs Atours, appeared in a 1947 issue and suggested that the appropriate dress for younger boys was a romper outfit and a short pants suit for older boys. Another article, Trois cheveux, there was adise about hair styling for infants and younger boys. The author suggests, "One advice is to avoid the " bigoudis " which were used for the choupette. The author suggests that the bigoudis can damage the hair."
The June, 1947 issue of Mode Pratigue shows fancy outfits for children. There were puffed sleeve blouses and short and long pants for the boys and fancy dresses for the girls. Some of these outfits look like Firt Communion outfits. One outfit was in the sailor style.
Mode pratique in the August 10, 1947 had directions for a brother sister outfit. The outfits were for 2-3 year olds. The title was "Frère et soeur". The outfit was a "jupe" (short jacket) for the boy and gir. The boy wore what was described as culotte, but look like suspender romper pants. The girls outfit was a coordinated suspender skirt. They were shown in green. I'm not sure what the material was. August is summer in France and these outfits look perfect for summer wear.
The February 1948 issue of Mode Pratique showcased toddler outfits. The girls wore little dresses. The bows wore rompers. The cover showed a girl in a pink dress and a boy in blue rompers, but there was also a girl in a blue dress. One of the illustrations showed a boy in gingham romper.
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