Investing in Vintage

 

 

This is the world’s most expensive vintage ski poster. In 2008, it sold for a whopping £36,500 in Christie’s annual vintage ski poster sale. (And no, I don’t know what it says either…)  Three years on and the price for this 1950′s Russian ski tournament poster had dropped to a mere £1,625 at the same sale. Such are the vagaries of the vintage market that today, on the Vintage Seekers site,  you would have to pay £8,800.  

However, not all prices on this vintage collectibles site are into four figures. A more modest £220 buys you Colorado. This is skier Jeremy Muth, captured on camera as he hurtles down No Name Gulch in the mid 1960′s. The deep blue sky contrasted with crisp white snow is a ski resort poster classic – but the logo is pure cowboy country.  

 

 1960s No Name Gulch, Colorado Ski Poster

 

The Stowe logo featured below is one of my resort favourites. It’s bold sweep, seemingly kicking up snow at either end, perfectly epitomises the energy and exhilaration of snow sports. I can’t help wondering, though, if the talented illustrator behind this late 60′s poster actually climbed one of the lift supports to get the perspective depicted here. This example will set you back £860. 

 

1968 Stowe, Vermont Original Ski Poster

 

The French resort of La Plagne played host to my very first ski holiday in the mid 1980s. However, this rather dull poster from 1971, overly dominated by the bobble hat of the resort logo, really undersells this very popular part of the huge Paradiski ski area. It is on the Vintage Seeker’s site for £1,200.  

 

1971 La Plagne, Savoie, France Original Ski Poster

 

In their interesting buyers guide, they suggest that some of the discrepancies in poster prices are down to the popularity of the resort, as well as the more obvious constraints of poster condition and scarcity value. In a European outlet, that may go some way to explaining why this rather plain La Plagne poster is more highly valued than the more vibrant example for Stowe above.  And glamorous resorts, of course, attract a glamorous, well-heeled crowd happy to invest in some fabulous original prints for their chic, slopeside chalets.    

Vintage Seekers also tell us that resorts usually outsell regional or national posters, so one for Cortina is likely to be more valuable than one for the Dolomites or ‘Ski Italy’, for example.  No surprise then that this fabulous image by Mario Puppo from 1938, realised £13,750 at Christie’s earlier this year. 

 

 

When it comes to investing in vintage ski posters then, it’s not absolutely necessary to be a Russian Oligarch or Lottery winner,  though it certainly helps, especially if you get carried away with the bidding in a London sale room one January. But ski posters can still look good value when compared to other investments. Many posters that were fetching £3-4,000 in the late 1990s now sell for £12,000 or more - not a bad return. Just don’t hang them in that lovely sunny back room … 

 


Back to the Future at Quiksilver

 

 

Quiksilver‘s hard-wearing, cool surf gear has been spotted on all the best bodies, on all the best beaches since the 1970s. So when snowboarding came along, with its simiar youthful ethos of laid back living and thrill-seeking in nature’s wonderland, the boys and girls at Quiksilver weren’t far behind in creating some loud & distinctive kit for this equally cool crowd. That, in turn, influenced what skiers wanted to wear, so very soon the mountain was clad in lots of little blobs of wild fluorescence.  

 

Thankfully, those over-ripe, retro snow suits are rarely seen these days – although some frankly quite scary and somewhat faded examples have been spotted in and around Serre Che quite recently. Most, however, are reserved for 80′s theme parties, which nonetheless seem to be very popular in an awful lot of US ski resorts.  This eye-popping, thumping and, no doubt, rather warm scene was snapped at The Moose Knuckle Inn at The Local in San Diego. Don’t forget your sunglasses…

 

 

In stark contrast, Quiksilver’s 12/13 offering was pretty low key - plain colours, with the occasional simple, bold graphic print. So, it was interesting to see on Poppy Gall’s blog what this iconic company have planned for the 2013/14 season – and it turns out to be vintage ski style!  The pattern is vintage heaven but when paired with the clean, modern cut of the jacket, it just looks fabulous.

 

I have to admit that I haven’t seen too many pheasant roaming the slopes before. Maybe in game-rich places like Scotland there could be the potential to run into the odd one. It would certainly make for a substantially more satisfying mountain lunch than the typical Alpine cheese-fest fondue. And I can’t imagine that could look quite as good on a ski jacket either…

 

 

 

Thanks to Poppy Gall once again for the inspiration here, as well as Quiksilver and quiksilver-vintage.

 

 


Hello Dolly!

 

Barbie Ski Lodge

 

Brash, baudy Barbie is a girl who enjoys the good life and loves a good time - so it was only natural that she joined the ski set. Not only is she really rocking an eye-searingly orangey one piece here but she has also acquired a fluorescently, folksy chalet to match it. Just don’t light that fire Barbie…

Here’s a more demure outfit for colder days featuring some cute ric-rac trimming.

 

Barbie vintage ski kit  on Ebay

 

There are some great, go-faster striped skis included in the winter holiday pack for Li’l Lorrie below. But, judging by the size of the anarak hood, looks like her speed down the slopes may be somewhat impeded by quite a substantial beehive.  

 

Wardrobe for Li'l Lorrie

 

Sindy was the favourite of lots of my friends. More reserved than Barbie and with huge blue eyes, she could have been Barbie’s cute, putty-nosed little sister.  

 

Sindy outfit on Ebay

 

Love this Sindy outfit found on Ebay and featured below - especially the neat Fair Isle detailing and serious pair of skis. Makes me wonder if it was actually meant for ‘boyfriend’ Paul…

 

Vintage Sindy complete winter sports set

 

 …especially with this being the more usual fare of ’60s Sindyness.  Those rose tinted goggles, however, would prove very useful on days when it’s part cloud and part sun, as they heighten contrast. And that would certainly give Sindy the edge in the race to the bar.  

 

Sindy ski outfit 1960s - winter Holiday

 

My own favourite fashion doll was Palitoy’s ‘Action Girl’.  A name which reflected her feministic ’70s fully articulated limbs, almost proportional body dimensions and modern outlook. Her adventures around the house and garden saved the world several times over.  And, thanks to my Mum, she had a great wardrobe to do it in. But for some reason she was never sent on icy Arctic or Alpine missions - so never acquired the quilted, nylon, fur-trimmed anarak which this would have demanded. 

 

Action Girl

 

Sporty Dynagirl appears less interested in saving the world as saving seconds on her downhill speeds. I wonder – was the stripey one-piece inspired by Steve McQueen’s jacket in the film ‘Le Mans’ – or was it the other way round…?

 

Vintage Dynagirl ski doll

 Steve McQueen in Le Mans

 

My younger sister not only had her own Action Girl, but also Tammy.  Tammy obviously did a bit of recreational skiing – though not in our house. And she may have liked the full white fur trim thing - but she was obviously savvy enough to get some decent bindings too.

 

Tammy collection on Etsy

 

Let’s leave the last word to Sindy. She’s doing fur trim too but maxxing it with flame red. And set against the acid yellow of her one-piece, she looks stunning. Don’t forget your gloves and boots though, Sindy. Frostbite would just ruin the effect…

 
Sindy All in One Yellow Suit 1971

 

 Thanks again to Ebay and Etsy for images.

 

 

 


When sledging gets serious…

 

Lord Northesk in St. Moritz, Switzerland 1935

 

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that we Brits can win medals for sledging (thanks Shelley Rudman and Amy Williams). After all it’s the first thing to come out of the shed as soon as the first few flakes appear. However, it may come as something of a surprise to learn that we actually invented the sport.

 

125-Jahre-Jubiläum Cresta Run/125 years Cresta Run

 

Challenged by an enterprising hotel owner in St.Moritz in 1870, a small group of well-to-do English gents entertained themselves in, what was then, an out of season spa town.  Wintering at the Kulm Hotel suddenly became very fashionable and inevitably someone saw the potential for fun in adapting one of the local delivery sledges. Races down the narrow, twisting streets became so popular that it became dangerous just to step outside. Casualties began to rise at an alarming rate and the practice was banned. It was at this point that hotel owner, Caspar Badrutt, decided to invest in a purpose-built track for his affluent, hedonistic guests – and thus was born the famous Cresta Run which is still very much in use today.    

 

125-Jahre-Jubiläum Cresta Run/125 years Cresta Run

 

Click on the image below to see some entertaining footage of the Cresta Run from 1938, courtesy of British Pathe News. It’s comes satisfyingly complete with Miles Cholmondeley-Warner-esque narration. As he crisply announces “When he gets to the bottom, won’t he have sore feet?” you’re already thinking of quite a different body part that may be suffering…

 

CRESTA RUN CELEBRATES ITS JUBILEE – ST MORITZ

CRESTA RUN CELEBRATES ITS JUBILEE - ST MORITZ

 

The Americans built their first bobsleigh track in 1930 at Lake Placid, in readiness for the 1932 Winter Olympics. These stunning posters were actually the result of a US government work creation scheme ’The Federal Art Project’ which provided employment for many artists and illustrators during the Great Depression.    

 

Up where winter calls to play Olympic bobsled run Lake Placid by Jack Rivolta

Olympic Bobsled Run Lake Placid

Poster from Swann Galleries

 

In case you were wondering why they were named bobsleighs, it was because racers used to bob backwards and forwards inside the sledge to increase their speed. No need to bob nowadays - they can reach speeds of up to 125mph.

And, as I’m originally from Yorkshire, I am going to add that the modern bobsleigh was, in fact, produced by a small group of young engineers in Leeds, prior to the 1980 winter Olympics. The British Bobsleigh website goes on to tell us it had ‘many novel features, one inspired by Concorde’. It was copied the world over and perfected to what it is today. No wonder it’s our most successful winter team sport. Well done lads and lasses!

 

Tony Nash (pilot) & Robin Dixon win Gold for Britain, Innsbruck 1964

 


Scorching Vintage Ski Jackets

 

And now for a stack of shouty, Seventies-ness - with the odd Eighties orange-y anorak thrown in for good measure. There’s no hiding on the hill with these…

 

Slalom on Etsy

 

Roan on Etsy

 

Found on Etsy

 

Kids jacket found on Etsy

 

Found on French Ebay site

 

Found on Ebay

 

 

Gerry jacket from VintageTrends.com

 

Men's Jacket from VintageTrends.com

 

 Ebay & Etsy plundered once again! Thanks too to Vintage Trends.  

 

 

 


Happy Vintage Ski Valentine

 

 
Vintage Ski Valentine card
 

Vintage ski Valentine from Poppy Gall

 

 

Vintage Ski Valentine Card

 

Vintage Snowshoe Valentine

 Falling for you on Etsy

 

 

Sending love to Etsy, Ebay, Zwani & Poppy Gall for these images.


It Happened in Sun Valley…

 

sun-valley-serenade-glenn-miller-sonja-henie-john-payne-1941

 

This vintage ski Hollywood hit from the 1940s starred John Payne & Sonja Henie. Sonja was, in fact, a Norwegian figure-skating champion who went on to enjoy a very successful acting career. And got to wear some cute woolly gloves along the way.

 

sun-valley-serenade

 

If you’re reading this via email, am afraid you’ll have to click through to the blog to see this magical film clip. Apparantly, it’s not technically possible to email YouTube videos on WordPress yet – sorry ’bout that! However, if you do,  you’ll be rewarded with more vintage filmic entertainment on the exciting new film archive page! Well, you didn’t have anything better to do for the next 15 minutes, did you?!!

 

My thanks to Stacy and her Dutch Door Cottage blog where I spotted this delight.

 


Ploughing on

Ski lesson in Sun Valley

 

For most of us skiing doesn’t come naturally and, like learning to drive, being taught by friend, family or foe is not highly recommended. So a certain number of lessons are in order.  

 

It’s often a good idea to learn the basics of skiing on a dry slope. Thankfully, they’ve come a long way since 1922. This doesn’t look like much fun – and can’t say I would’ve enjoyed being taught by a Hitler Youth leader either. But the same principle could be adopted at home quite easily – just remove your dining table legs, prop one end of the top on a coffee table and away you go.

 

Illustrated London News 1922 ski

 

Things had progressed a little by the early 60s. Here’s Jack McTarnaghan teaching a class in the States the “newest recreation” of indoor skiing on a slope covered with ’Ski-Dek’ which supposedly duplicated the feeling of skiing on a snow-covered slope.  I think a few curtain poles were re-purposed here…

 
Indoor ski lesson Jack McTarnaghan

 

 Then it’s time to get on the real thing and practise that snowplough. And that’s how it’s gone, right from the 1930s…
 

Ski lesson Cannon Mountain Dec 1938

 

…to the ’40s…

 

Alfred Eisenstaedt at St.Moritz Switzerland 1947

 

 …and the ’60s onward. 

 

Ski Class Maine

Is that a grin or a grimace?

 

Class 1960s

 

And once you have completed ski school, you might be lucky enough to get a badge…

 

From Life mag on EpicSki21 BoyScoutsStowe1950 title ski merit badge

 

Thanks to Boston.com for some of these lovely images.


Stitched up for the slopes

 

Here’s inspiration for more home sewn ski finery.

 

First up is a super 70′s, quilt crazy style from Simplicity.  The Brunette, however, doesn’t look too happy about having her foot crunched under the Blondes ski boot and that pole appears to have been honed to quite a point. Don’t be fooled, she’s going to have that ingot pendant whatever it takes.

 

Vintage Simplicity Sewing Pattern for ski wear
 

I’m a huge fan of brown. Being ultra pale, it’s my personal default base colour. Think smooth milk chocolate, dark cocoa, deep bronze, caramel and hazel. I’m not sure how I would describe the particular shade featured below, though. The fabric appears to have been inspired more by the muddy, cow-mucked, ploughed fields of rural England than the sparkle-covered slopes of the Alps.

  Simplicity Skisuit Pattern

 

Simplicity also had some cute kids kit. But is that a matching pompom Boy 1 has carefully crafted, ready to present to his blue-eyed, booted & suited sweetheart? Or a large snowball he’s going to use to wipe the smile off his toothy love rival?  With his ski pole poised, Child 3 is clearly not taking any chances.

 

Simplicity sewing pattern 1970s

 

This could easily be me with big brother & sister No 1 – except that I don’t remember having any ski poles to go with the home-made skis. Good for balance I’m told.

 

Simplicity sewing pattern

 

Butterick were responsible for this gem, rocking the colour blocking trend first time round. The shiny quilted padding fabric was obviously still going strong too. I imagine the lack of friction with these slippy suits could add a good couple of hundred feet to any spectacular post-somersault slide.

 

Ski suit Pattern
 

Pattern No.6826 from McCalls offers amazing versatility. Go from a life on the ocean wave, to carving through wind-blown crust, with a bit of lumberjacking inbetween. Just accessorize accordingly. 

 

McCalls ski suit patterns 1979

 

Some lovely, classic 70s hairstyles featured on our next pattern cover, again courtesy of the unsung illustrators at McCalls.  Ski jacket pattern No. 5893 is described as unlined - one for Spring conditions, I think.
 

McCalls sewing Patterns 1977

 

But let’s go back to 1957 for more simple, elegant lines and these stylish suits from Vogue finish our collection on a high.  But, hey, here’s someone else with only one ski pole. I bet I know exactly where the other one is, though – right underneath the ski lift, alongside a lemon yellow mitten… 

 

Vogue sewing pattern 1957

 

With thanks to the sellers on Ebay and Etsy for these wonderful images.


Sew for Snow – Donner Designs

 
Donner Designs Womens Ski Suit Pattern

 

Donner Designs was a small American pattern company based in Reno, Nevada.  Given that Nevada means ‘snow-covered’ in Spanish,  it comes as no surprise to learn that many of their designs were for skiwear. In fact, Reno is only about an hour’s drive from the major ski resorts of Lake Tahoe. Throughout the ’70s & ’80s Donner Designs produced a neat collection of cheaply produced patterns now resurfacing on Ebay & Etsy.

 

Check out the mountain inspired logo featured on the front of each packet, it’s 3 peaks morphing from a graphic heartbeat line in the ’70s to a trio of blocky triangles for the 1980s. The trademark expired in 1995, presumably following the demise of the business and no doubt reflecting the much wider availablity of decent quality, affordable skiwear at long last.  Can’t help loving the idea of some cute custom-made ski gear though but I guess Sellotape doesn’t really cut it when it comes to those water-tight taped seams… 

 

Donner Designs Pattern for Men's Ski Pants

 

Donner Designs Ski Jacket Jumpsuit

 

Donner Designs 109 Kids ski wear 1970s

 

Donner Designs pattern 118 Ski jacket

 

Donner Designs Women's ki Jacket No.115

 

Donner Designs No.124 Women's Ski Jacket

 

Donner Designs Mens Ski Jacket No.125