Vogue Pattern Magazine, April-May 1953

This issue of Vogue Pattern Magazine is crammed full of amazing dresses, so I'm sure you'll see more of it, and sooner rather than later. Let me just say that 1953? An excellent year for interesting necklines.

But for now, turn your attention to the dress on the left in this scan. It illustrates perfectly one of the problems of buying old pattern magazines: you are then tormented by being unable to find the actual old patterns. (Pattern magazines, for the most part, are just catalogs of the patterns. They do not contain them.) This is one of the many patterns in this issue that I've been looking for for years. The drape at the neckline, the full skirt, the soft gathering under the bust: if I had this pattern I would have made it several times over (pale-blue handkerchief linen, anyone?). But I don't, and I'm too lazy to draft my own pattern for it, so this dress stays on the page instead of hanging in my closet.

(Click on the image to see it full-size in a new window.)

Comments

[silvia]

It is not difficult to drafting !!I could do it for you if you share with me the photo of your pattern catalogue... !!

[Erin]

Wow, what a kind offer! I'd be happy to take you up on it, just email me ...

[karinova]

"...one of the problems of buying old pattern magazines: you are then tormented by being unable to find the actual old patterns. (Pattern magazines, for the most part, are just catalogs of the patterns. They do not contain them.)"I'm rather late, but FYI, it's apparently only American pattern magazines (all 2 or 3 of them) that don't contain any patterns. I never got the point of Vogue Pattern Magazine. It's just a great big ad; what a waste of paper. European pattern magazines are different/better/amazing! First and foremost, they do contain the actual full-size patterns! As in 30-50 patterns per issue. I almost passed out for sheer joy the first time I saw that! Not only that, but the designs are waaay more interesting, and they almost never repeat them, because many of them are... well, designer (from H&M to Chanel.) And of course, it goes without saying that the patterns themselves are also better-drafted.I'm thinking you might try looking for vintage issues of European pattern magazines like Burdamode, Modellinas and Patrones. (I have no idea whether such a market even exists, but why not?) Perhaps a sympathetic European friend could look around for you.

[tuesdayrobinson]

I just discovered this blog, and I love it so much that I'm going to read it from start to finish! Tell me more--what happened with this dress? Did you get a pattern? Did you make the dress? Can I buy the pattern somewhere? That neckline! Those sleeves! I must have it!

[Erin]

Still haven't found this dress ... glad you've found the blog, though!