January 12, 2014

25 wonderfully stylish vintage ski wear images

Nearly half a year ago, when the thermometer was hovering around 40C, the local beaches were packed with swimsuit clad sunbathers, and it scarcely felt like the A/C was pulling its weight, I wrote a post about my hunt for vintage snow and ski clothing.

In the months since then, I haven't had the best of luck in finding pieces that fit the bill, though classic wool ski pants have been forthcoming (thank you very, very much to the sweet soul who helped me there), and that's certainly a great start. The search continues into 2014 now, even though it may mean I don't have a head-to-toe ensemble to show you this winter - there's always the next, and hopefully I'll have just such a ski bunny appropriate outfit to share then.

In the comment section of that post last August, my very dear friend, Joanna from Dividing Vintage Moments, asked if I might post more on vintage ski wear, and today, with the season in full swing, I'm happy to do just that.
 
Now, I'm not a skier in the slightest. I tried it a couple of times as a youngster, but that's all the firsthand experience with skis that I can claim, and as my health now makes skiing impossible, I'm content instead to simply enjoy watching others ski in person or on TV, looking at stellar vintage images of famous names, fashion models, and everyday folks alike in their ski hill finest, and to plow along in my hunt for vintage snow attire.

Both of those things have led me to discover oodles of great yesteryear ski (and snow) wear images over the past year in particular, and this morning - as I know there are many of you out there like Joanna and myself who are also die hard fans of vintage winter sportswear - I am delighted to share twenty-five that really stand out for me.

Each of these images (spanning the 1930s, 40s and 50s), unearthed from across various corners of the web, which speak volumes for themselves, is fun and fashionable to no end! I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I've loved discovering all of them over the past several months.























































 photo 9d7184af277f198c0a0aa066d9ba2a78_zps6268a487.jpg

























...And just because it was too gosh darn cute not to share, a bonus 26th vintage ski wear photo. 





{All images in this post have been pinned to my Pinterest board, A Sporting Vintage Chance. To learn more about a specific image's respective online source, please visit that board and follow through to said source via Pinterest.}


♥ ♥ ♥


Whether one cuts up the slopes or not, so long as you live in a climate that gets chilly weather for at least a small percentage of the year, there's no reason why you can't sport a vintage ski wear look, too (which of the looks above really jumps out at you in particular?). Many items designed for outdoor winter sports in decades past were highly sturdy, warm as a freshly baked potato, and fabulously stylish - not to mention superbly practical in the face of Old Man Winter's icy wrath.

Much as I've been doing myself, if you'd like to add some (or some more) vintage ski and snow appropriate garments to your wardrobe, be sure to keep close tabs on etsy and eBay, as well as your local second hand, thrift and vintage stores. Used sporting goods shops, antique stores, flea markets, and estates sales can also be potential sources of these kinds of garments, from ear muffs to boots, mittens to jackets - not mention, should you really want to go all out, vintage skis themselves.

This isn't a hunt I'm planning on throwing in the towel - or would that be, more aptly, the wool scarf - on anytime soon, and I'm sure that the other items I'm searching diligently for (chiefly a coat and vintage snow boots) will come my way at some point. Who knows, maybe it'll be smack dab in the middle of the summer, when the last thing most (none vintage wearing) people are thinking about is old school ski wear.

Wherever and whenever my ensemble eventually comes together, you can be your bottom dollar it will be appearing here the moment the temperatures plummet down to freezing again next! :)

44 comments:

  1. What wonderful images! It doesn't snow where I live but I can at least dream of wearing gorgeous warm woollies.

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  2. I absolutely love 1930s and 1940s ski wear, which is rather strange because I hate skiing. I'm still hoping to find an affordable pattern some day to make one for myself. I absolutely love the jackets from the "Essentials for Winter Sports" catalog page, I would wear that all winter!

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  3. I will wish you lots of luck in your hunt. I adore the red and white sweater, I wonder if I soon have the knitting skills to knit myself af copy. I don't think so, but perhaps with a little help from my SIL. It is so lovely and would also look great with a black pencil skirt. I also live in a cold climate and love modern ski wear, although I'm not a skier myself too, but modern ski wear is light weight, warm and breathable. Things that does not apply to vintage ski wear, so I think I for once stick to modern. But I loved all your photos, the style is fabulous. I wish they would make copies of the vintage style in modern materials. Thanks for sharing, dear. :)

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    1. Oooh, so to do! It's an area that I've not seen any vintage repro sellers, big or small, venture into yet (I can't definitively say that no one has, but I haven't encountered such), but which I think there's certainly be a thriving market, especially if the pricing remained on the reasonable side.

      Many thanks for your great comment - have a beautiful Monday, dear Sanne!
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. My favorite image has the be the yellow and stripe ensemble. What could be better than matching gloves and socks:)? This is such a marvelous post thanks for sharing all these wonderful images. I really enjoy seeing vintage ski wear and you can see that it certainly was a predominant 20th century sport. I also really love looking at the vintage sunglasses and goggles. I hope you find your ski suit this year!

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  5. What an amazing round up of images! I don't know if I could pick a favourite…there are so many good ones.

    I will keep my eyes peeled for you while I'm online and even out and about shopping in the world. God knows a place as cold as Winnipeg (did you hear we were colder than Mars about a week ago! haha!) should have some vintage winter wear for sale. You should email me your measurements and let me know what you still need for your ensemble. :)

    I hope you're having a great weekend! :)
    Lisa.

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  6. Thank you for all these lovely inspirational photos, and images :) I am still procrastinating my 1935 skiing outfit, I have gotten so far as to getting fabric samples (pattern in hand) but winter in Norway has been a really odd one. Just ridiculously (around 10 degrees C) rain and storm winds. Just insane and very uncharacteristic for the season. Over here in Norway I have yet to find any real vintage skiwear for sale (pre 70s), I guess people wore it to death :) One day though, you will hit the jackpot, and get your perfect outfit for the slopes!

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  7. I'm a fan of the Handarbeiten outfit... though I might lose the hat, personally, and substitute it with one of the other options. I really like the trousers she's got on.

    I have never been skiing but the idea is increasingly growing on me as one to try out... especially after seeing all these happy vintage ladies enjoying the slopes!

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  8. this pictures make me even more sad that we haven´t had any real winter with snow yet:( how gorgeous the ladies look in their handknitted jumpers! i love especially those with medieval or royal patterns or however it should be called with the crowns;)
    love and kiss,mary

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  9. I love these! So many fun colors, and many would look great with or without skis. I'll definitely look at vintage sportswear more often.
    And yes, the last one is too cute not to include.

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  10. Skiing wearing a skirt is a wonderful dream.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  11. Gorgeous collection, Jessica! I particularly love the one of Shirley Temple! So pretty! :)

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  12. I really like the lumber jackets and skating skirt. I also love the woman in the green outfit with the yellow and red knitwear set. This is a marvellous collection of images, really inspiring for a vintage look for the snow. I hope you find some lovely pieces for yourself this year.

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  13. The first one is absolutely the best! :D But I would hesitate to ski in such clothes if I were in the pictured lady shoes, because I would be sooo afraid I would fall and ruin it somehow:D It's just too pretty :D
    I am not skier and I know only vaguely what the modern skier is supposed to wear, but the vintage version (it doesn't even have to be as classy as the first-picture-lady - ladies on the 3rd pictures are dressed very nicely too, and I think something like that would do even nowadays) looks definitely better than those modern neon glossy overalls :D

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  14. There's something so charming about vintage snow wear. I hope your search for more pieces to add to your own wardrobe will be successful!

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  15. A terrific selection of images Jessica. Even though I'm not a skier (I don't even like the cold weather) I have been searching for a knitting pattern I can knit up similar to the red and white one but am yet to find one. The image that most appeals to me is the mustard and brown hoodie. The one with the round yoke and cinched in waist. I just love it!

    I wish you good luck in your search. Who knows when that perfect piece will turn up - it may just be tomorrow!

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  16. I love that post cover

    retro rover

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  17. These are fantastic images, thanks so much for sharing! Love some of those sweaters.
    -Emily

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  18. Such lovely images! I don't ski but if I did I would love to sport an outfit like one of the ones featured above x

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  19. Wow! So many fun and sophisticated articles of ski wear. I love the style of those days gone by. Where has it gone and why!

    I did once have a lovely dark green wool pair of ski pants, which I actually wore on the Sierra slopes when I was 18. But the girls in the skirts would have been me in my teen years. My sisters and I wore skirts, seldom pants, even in the coldest winter days during my years in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

    I so enjoyed this post, Jessica! I sure hope that you find that vintage coat and those vintage snow boots that you desire.

    :) Hope

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  20. How they manage to look completely darling in ski outfits is beyond me! They did though, so it must be possible!
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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  21. Image this terrible wet wollen stuff after skiing for a day. Cold, wet, heavy. As much as I love vintage clothes - for skiing this would be my last choice.

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    1. dear anonymous!
      i do this since years - wearing old school woolen ski garb for winter sports. no cold, heavy, wet. the opposite is true. the wool breath like nothing else but keeps the windchill outside, got only wet if you break thru ice on a lake and even then it´s still able to warm you.
      and the best - it last´s for years and after that you can give it back to mother nature without harm......

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  22. jess - you shot me in the heart!
    love love love this post! you know - i´m a "skihasi" and winterlover par exellance. and i use to do that sports in vintage outfits. in which it´s easy to look "darling" - to answer chatterblossom.
    thank you very much!!!!
    big hug <3

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    1. I highly suspected that this charming ski outfit filled post would appeal to you greatly, dear Beate. It's awesome that you used to do winter sports in vintage ensembles akin to these - lucky you! I bet they get you snugged as a bug in a rug the whole time.

      Tons of hugs coming right back at you!
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. Such fantastic images, thanks for posting them! I was lucky enough to find some modern, bottle green trousers in a charity shop (thrift shop) near me that had more than a whiff of 30s/40s ski trousers about them, so I snapped them up and couldn't believe my luck!

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  24. I have never gone skiing - can you believe that ?
    However if i did, my vintage heart would wear that all grey assemble with the purple and orange jacket - how chic is that ?

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  25. I just love this post ! Had to laugh at the word "Togs" for ski wear ! But, since we're not seeing any white stuff
    so far this season, guess I'll just look at the pictures and hope for the best !!

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    1. This winter, the world over, has been a bit of a head scratcher. It seems that different areas either got buried in massive amounts of snow or have seen little to none, instead of a fairly consistent blanketing. I'm sorry that your part of the world is being spared snow this season. We'd had plenty here in the Okanagan Valley and I'd happily ship some your way if I could.

      ♥ Jessica

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  26. I've just realised my mum had a hat just like the black one in the penultimate picture, that was inherited from a relative...I must see if she's still got it and if she has if she still wants it! I can at least send you a photo if it's still around, as it's definitely original. The only thing is, while she's not a big 'clearer out' like me, she has been getting rid of some things recently in preparation for downsizing so I will have to just see. Also, my teenage son has a jumper (as in sweater) just like the one the girl in the middle of the third photograph with the snowflakes on, but I don't think I'll mention it to him!!

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    1. Hello dear Philippa, first off - extra blog comment bonus points for your use of the word penultimate. That's such a great word, but it's not one you encounter terribly often on this side of the pond (and indeed, I most associate with the UK TV show Top Gear of all things), so my inner logophile was delighted that you did.

      How great that your mom had, or may still have, a hat just like that one. It's a charmer for sure!

      Many thanks for your great comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  27. It's on.
    As much as I'd like to say I dislike winter (snow and shovelling) I do like winter-wear. These lovely pictures of girls from days gone by are absolutely inviting. There is a special something about ski-sweaters. Don't you think that the most adorable, friendly-looking and snowflake covered sweaters are made to be work at a ski resort?

    Many Tuesday hugs!
    Marija

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  28. Wow, I was speechless after the first image! These are so lovely! I wish I would look this stylish going down the slopes too. :) I wish you a lovely day, my dear Jessica!

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  29. After a day well over 40ºC here in Australia… this post is absolutely REFRESHING! I am off to bed to go dream of snow filled fields. :)

    xo

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  30. I think, it's difficult to find clothes which is beautiful but still suitable for cold and wet weather. these pictures are a great inspiration :)

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  31. This makes me want to go skiing!

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  32. Those images are great - I wish it got cold enough here to dress like the models :)

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  33. I have to say some of these outfits do not look very warm - those girls in skirts look very chilly! Very cute though.

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  34. I've never really been athletic, but I have a great appreciation for winter sports. I've always wanted to try snowboarding {Which I think some of these awesome ski outfits would work just as well for snowboarding} or figure skating. I'll never be good at them due to lack of coordination, but that's okay. :)

    I can't wait for the winter Olympics!

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    1. This is the first time in many years I haven't had cable when the Olympics were underway, but the major TV channels that broadcast it usually put a lot of the events up online, so I'm sure I'll get to catch my fave events still. Agreed - lots of these pieces would work great for snowboarding (which I've never done either) or skating (the skirts here in particular would be great for figure skating).

      ♥ Jessica

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  35. I just love the trousers tucked into socks! I used to ski and I can ice skate but I've never looked particularly glamourous whilst doing so sadly ;( x

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  36. Wonderful!!! Winter wonderland galore! Thank you for sharing such gorgeous images!
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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