Vintage Sewing Pattern of the Day: Vintage 1960s "Jackie O" Suit Separates

Loving this Jackie O inspired suit pattern but also love that it's a bit more youthful. It is a Petites pattern after all. I love that in the patterns description Petites in the 1960's meant 5'1 and under! (I would have been petite...now I'm SUPER petite, haha!)

If I could sew I would whip up this adorable vintage 60s suit separates, probably in large black and white herringbone print with big mod buttons!

Image credit: The Vintage Design Shop

Vintage Sewing Pattern: Casual Daywear in the 1930s & 1940s

Vintage patterns never fail to inspire or have me wishing more than ever that I knew how to sew. (Is it too late for me to learn, I wonder?) These vintage sewing pattern images are also terrific for seeing what styles of shoes, handbags, hats, and gloves women wore with their dresses! And once in awhile you see a bit of jewelry too!


These vintage patterns all look simple and chic, but upon a closer look we notice the pleated details on the bodice, the small darts on the shoulders, the gored skirt, the slightly puffed sleeves, the buttoned cuffs... so many little details.

Image credits: All of these vintage 1940s and 1930s sewing patterns can be purchased at New Vintage Lady

Vintage Sewing Pattern of the Day: Vintage 1970s Full Length Knit Cape by McCall's

If I had a magic sewing wand that with a simple flick of the hand, the garment I wish to sew would appear, this knit cape would be one of them. All right, I know knitting is not sewing, but you get the idea ^_^. I love that this cape borders between fantasy and chic classic.

Image credit: Vintage 1970s Cape Pattern from McCalls from Retro With Lana

Vintage Sewing Patterns | Understanding the 1940s Dress Silhouette

It is important to note the emphasis on the shoulders in the 1940s dress silhouette. Some costume historians say this trend came about because of the growing responsibilities of the average woman in the 1940s, especially during the war years. Many men were sent off to war and the women assumed their positions in their absence. Perhaps broader shoulders were associated with being stronger, more confident, perhaps evoking that "Can Do, Will Do" attitude.


The broader shoulders also extended to jackets, blazers, coats, and blouses. The 1940s silhoutte can best be described with broader shoulders, nipped in waists, and a-line skirts usually calf length to falling a bit below the knee.

10 Vintage Sewing Patterns from the 1940s & 1950s by Simplicity

One way to date vintage clothing is to peruse old vintage sewing patterns. You can find many of them on sites such as Flickr or search for them on Etsy. You will have a better understanding of what real women wore in comparison to what the Hollywood starlets wore. You can also find out what the trends were for that year. So if you're trying to learn more about dating vintage clothes, be sure to research vintage patterns!

Simplicity vintage sewing patterns are the most helpful in my opinion only because each envelope was stamped with a date! I mostly view Simplicity patterns to get a better date range for a vintage dress or blouse.



Descriptions: 1.} Rockabilly Vintage Blouse Pattern circa 1957 2.} 1940s Skirt Pattern 3.} Vintage Teen Dress Sewing Pattern circa 1949 4.} Low Back Blouse circa 1954 5.} 1950s Sundress Bolero Playsuit 6.} 1953 V Neck Summer Dress Sewing Pattern 7.} Vintage Blouse Patter circa 1947 8.} Cocktail Dress Vintage Pattern circa 1956 9.} 1954 Vintage Skirt & Petticoat 10.} 1940s Pinup Front Knotted Midriff Top With Shorts & Skirt

Image credits: All patterns are from Flickr from the Vintage Patterns group

The 60s wasn't only about scooter dresses...

A lot of the full skirted, poufy flouncy dresses are associated with the 1950s, but what you may not know, is that these pretty poufy frocks were actually quite prominent in early 60s fashion.

When vintage dresses are placed in specific decades in the shop, it's sometimes based on what decade the dress is better associated with. Some dresses, especially when they fall in those blurry years (right at the end or start of a new decade), are just too hard to pinpoint an exact decade, so while a dress may appear from the 50s, it could actually be from the early 60s.

Don't you wish dresses required a time stamp? LOL!



Picture credits: 1.] Sugarpie Honeybunch, 2.] Rick Raven, 3.] same source, 4.] Astro Girl, 5.] My Sweetie Pie Pie, 6.] 1961 Vintage Dress Pattern from McCalls, 7.] 1960 vintage dress pattern, 8.] Family Circle, Summer 1960 Jackieinmi

Vintage 1950s Blouse Sewing Patterns

One of the best ways to learn more about vintage clothing is to study vintage sewing patterns. The illustrations on the front really give a feel for what women wore day to day. I usually look at vintage patterns to determine the age of a garment, very helpful when it comes to dating vintage blouses and skirts as sometimes they're a little harder to date than dresses. Anyhow, without further ado... a few vintage blouse patterns from the 50s for you to enjoy!



How many different types of collars can you spot? Do you notice how tailored and streamlined the blouses were in the 1950s? It seems they were always worn tucked into a skirt (with a banded waist or worn with a belt). The sleeves are never fussy and loose, cuffs seemed to always be present (no elastic!). I am swooning over the white Vintage Vogue blouse with the horizontal tucks, I would wear it in a heartbeat!

Vintage Halloween Costumes from the 1920s

I found these lovely images of vintage costumes you could make from the 1920s. Aren't these the most beautiful costumes you have ever seen? I so wish I could make one, but unfortunately I'm not that talented.



Credit: photos from carbonated on Flickr.

An Introduction to 1930s Fashion & Style

Here is a brief look into the 1930s fashion silhouettes and styles. The 1930s we saw the return of the female form. Remember, the decade prior straight cut drop-waist flapper dresses were the height of fashion...the waist had disappeared! In the 30s, the waistline was popular once again, a natural waist on all dresses, skirts, and pants.

Clothing was neat and tidy and most of all practical. In the 1930s the emergence of "sports wear" (now we refer to it as "ready to wear") became popular. Women became much busier and worked more than before therefore the need for clothing that allowed easy movement throughout the day was much needed.

Glamour was reserved for the evenings. Gowns with a low cut back were very popular. (Think Keira Knightley's green dress in 'Atonement') Fabrics that were popular included chiffon, silk, crepe-de-chines, and satin cut across the fabric to create gentle fluidity in the garments.



Sources: Nearly all these images were scanned in by carbonated on Flickr. A couple are from Etsy (sorry, the images were saved awhile ago, so I don't know which profile they are from)

1950s Blouse & Shirts Patterns

Here are some lovely vintage 1950s sewing patterns for various tops and blouses. I meant to post these earlier and even had witty commentary but it's crunch time for packing and witty commentary has to sit on the back burner. ^_^

Vintage 1930s Sewing Patterns

This is probably one of the prettiest vintage patterns I have ever seen. If I were skilled with the sewing machine, I would attempt this. 1930s Vintage Sewing Pattern available at Booty Vintage

1938 Redingote Dress - McCall 9716 available at Pattern Pedler

Vintage 1930s Puff Sleeve Dress Pattern available at A Great Notion