Monthly Archives: February 2012

Luxury vintage ski sweaters

February 25, 2012

The shiny, happy family above is the Palmer-Tomkinsons, a name more likely to be linked to Bond Street than Black Runs but the family has deep roots in the ski world. James “Jimmy” Palmer-Tomkinson, was British Champion in 1939 and competed in the Winter Olympic Games in 1936 and 1948. He married Swiss ski champion Doris Friedreich and together they produced four children who continued the family tradition. The sad death of their father in a training accident when he was only 36 did not deter them and eldest son Charles [...]

Vintage Ski Couture

February 16, 2012

Vintage ski style was a big hit on the catwalk in New York last week. French brand Lacoste was inspired by its own archive of ski wear to produce a sporty collection for A/W 2012 loosely based on its designs for the 1966 national ski team. Ski legend Jean Claude Killy, shown here in the team kit, won the first of many downhill races that year. Lacoste sent models clip-clopping down the runway in teeny tiny sporty mini-dresses and ski-boot style platforms against a backdrop [...]

Vintage Snowshoe Shuffle

February 4, 2012

Facial hair and fur is not absolutely essential for snowshoeing but it does add a certain class to the activity. The fur hoody here, I think, has the style edge over the more formal overcoat and is certainly going to be a whole lot warmer than just a wool jacket and waistcoat – even if one has filled up with copious amounts of porridge that morning. Snowshoes are thought to have been used as long as 10,000 years ago. Originally made from [...]

Vintage Ski Songs

February 2, 2012

Songs about skiing are pretty rare. But, then again, I suppose there aren’t too many about, say, tennis or archery either. However, American folk singer Bob Gibson managed to write an entire album. Banjo playing Bob was living in Aspen at the time and simply sang about the sport, and life there, that he loved so much. In his autobiography, he says “I loved to ski, and I would spend all day long skiing on the slopes and then sing every night to support myself and my family in ski lodges.” Originally [...]