Tag Archives: 1970s

Sew for Snow – Donner Designs

November 25, 2012

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 [...]

DIY Vintage Ski Style

March 19, 2012

Monks Hood Hat and Mitts Knitting Pattern1940

Much loved Etsy is not only a treasure trove of cool craft pieces but you’ll also find the means to produce your own creations. Like these original sewing patterns for super 70s ski outfits. The pattern below looks very much like the one my Mum used to make me and my younger sister, Diane, a ribbon-trimmed anarak when we were little. Mine was the same blue as the one illustrated and I loved it. I also seem to remember it was later cut down to provide [...]

Favourite Vintage Ski Website – 20% off until 30th!

November 29, 2011

The website ‘Vintage Ski World’ based in the States, has to be one of the finest sites for any fan of vintage ski style. You can even find original ski posters on here, like the delight shown below advertising California’s Mammouth Mountain resort in the 1960s. I’m loving the hot colour combination of the orange tan with the red jumper – but wonder if he managed to cover himself with powder rather than glory on landing? This fabulous poster will cost you $75, around £50, which is pretty good [...]