Glamour on the Slopes. Women’s Skiwear in Italian Magazines of the Interwar Years

After World War I, Italian women embraced a more active lifestyle, leading to the rise of outdoor sports, such as tennis, skiing, and swimming, activities valued both for their health benefits and as fashionable social pursuits.The main objective of the study is the investigation of the evolution of women’s skiwear in Italy during the interwar era through its presentation in contemporary Italian fashion magazines. After reviewing the existing literature on the period, the research has been conducted on primary sources, in particular a selection of women’s publications chosen for their cultural relevance and availability for direct examination: among them, Lidel, La donna, la casa, il bambino, La Donna, Dea, Vita Femminile, and Fantasie d’Italia. Given the seasonal nature of the topic, only issues published between December and February were analyzed, as these months featured the most coverage on skiwear. The study explores the defining characteristics of these outfits, including materials, colors, garment types, and accessories. Preliminary findings indicate that Italian women’s growing participation in sports significantly influenced their wardrobes with fashion magazines playing a key role in shaping perceptions of skiwear, presenting it not only as functional attire, but as an essential component of modern, stylish dressing.