Dressing for the mountains

Paul-Emile Victor during the filming "La loi du Nord" de Jacques Feyder. Montgenèvre, February 1939
Paul-Emile Victor during the filming “La loi du Nord” de Jacques Feyder. Montgenèvre, February 1939

 

In 1786, two Chamonix natives, Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard, were among the first to climb Mont-Blanc in France.  In those days, basic outdoor gear wasn’t particularly well-suited to mountain climbing, so resourceful day-trippers often designed their own clothing.

From such pioneers such to 20th-century winter-sports enthusiasts, mountain apparel has continued to evolve. In the 1930s, stretch ski pants — or the “fuseau” –appeared, and waterproof ski jackets became popular in the 1940s. From then on, mountain clothing became a category in its own right.

This exhibition retraces the evolution of mountain fashion, fabrics and trends, based on photographs and existing clothing and accessories. It also bears witness to the fine line between the clothing”s strictly utilitarian aspect of mountain clothing and its style.

 


 

Exposition présentée du 18 décembre 2014 au 20 septembre 2015

Musée de Megève

Ancien Hospice – 66, rue du Comte de Capré

74120 Megève

Tél. 04 50 21 21 01

www.megeve.fr

 

du 1er juin au 31 octobre 2014

La Châtaignière-Rovorée – Domaine départemental d’art et de culture

Route d’Excenevex – 74140 Yvoire

Tél. 04 50 72 80 21