pattern junkie

Patterns that make you go "Hmmm..."

One of the things I love about collecting/selling vintage patterns is stumbling across clothing designs like these.  They're the ones that startle me -- sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.

This one, McCall's 3013, is certainly a head-scratcher:

A zipfront shortsuit with a...reverse apron thrown over it?  Well, why not?

After much deliberation, I've decided that the reverse apron thingy should not be considered a skirt.  No way. This innovation is a coat for your legs.

Picture it.  Sigourney Weaver's character in The Ice Storm would wear this to a nice restaurant, whoosh through the door, whip off the skirt (exposing the shortsuit beneath) and hand it to the coatcheck girl.  No one would question her.  Sigourney's tough that way, after all. 

Revenge of the Gauchos

They're BACK.

Gauchos.  Culottes.  Pantskirts.  Call them what you will, but Hot Patterns has just come out with their new fall patterns, and there's a pair right there.

Part of me thinks they're silly.  Part of me thinks they're cool.  (This means that all of me wants to buy the pattern, even though fitting multi-panel pants like that could be a nightmare.)

Usually I shy away from gauchos, but I love the swirly quality of these.  They look like they'd be a blast to wear.  But again, the actual MAKING of them...you'd have to do a muslin to get the fit right, of course, and it seems like all those panels would make fitting even harder than usual.  Unless...unless all those panels actually give you more options to play with.  I have this rusty-orange wool blend that would be great for these.  (Despite the fact that orange is not my color, I've been obsessed with it lately.  My strategy is to keep it away from my face, letting my legs have all the fun that orange has to offer.)

I don't think I've worn gauchos (and I've decided just now that I'm always going to call them that -- "gauchos" is way more fun to say than "culottes") -- since I was 10 or so.  My mom made me an awesome pair in powder blue -- and my dad, who usually takes no notice of clothes at all, announced that he hated gauchos on principle.  It didn't stop me from wearing them -- this was in the late 70s, after all, when my father was wearing doubleknit suits and rocking an actual PERM, so who was he to give fashion advice?  

Come to think of it, I do have some fabulous powder blue bottomweight in my closet somewhere...

Find the Next Vintage Vogue Reproduction!

Have you heard that Vogue Patterns is looking for suggestions for vintage patterns to reproduce?  I can't seem to find much about it online, but here's a blurb from a recent issue of their magazine:

"Do you have a vintage Vogue pattern with all the pattern pieces and the instructions intact?  Would you like to see it become a Vintage Vogue pattern?  Send us a photocopy of the front of the envelope.  Do not send us the pattern.  (Unsolicited patterns will not be returned.) If yours is selected, we will ask you to send the original.  In appreciation, we will give you five free Vogue Patterns of your choice, on-page credit in our catalog, and return your pattern.  Mail a photocopy with your name, address, and daytime phone number printed on the back to: Vintage Vogue Search, Vogue Patterns Magazine, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.  You can also email a scan of the envelope front to [email protected].  Please put 'Vintage Vogue Search' in the subject line."

My only problem with this is the "send in the pattern" part.  Sure, they promise to give it back...but the thought of sending off a beloved pattern into the great unknown is too scary for me!  Why not just send your toddlers off into the woods to play with bears?

Still, if I had this great pattern, I might consider it.  I'd love to see Vogue 487 reproduced:

I love the gathered bust, collar detailing and the way the back bodice is shaped.  Of course, the fact that the back ruffles remind me of Leanne's lovely winning dress from last night's episode of Project Runway doesn't hurt!  (If only I had $650 to spare and a reason to wear that dress!)

If you're a 32 bust, you can grab the Vogue pattern on eBay today.  And if you have a B34, let me know..

Truth in Pattern Illustration

This may be my favorite pattern illustration ever.  It's definitely in the top ten.  Check it out:

Yes, he's wearing nothing but flip flops, a robe, a 70s porn mustache and tinted sunglasses.  And yes, the can in his hand reads "DRAFT."  (You can argue that it's just draft root beer, but you know you're just fooling yourself.)

It's even better in context.  Here's the full pattern illustration/photo (click on it to see it in full):

View A is so worldly and sophisticated, with his hi fi, record collection and book!  (Sure, he's holding the book like he's not quite sure what to do with it, but it's there.)  Meanwhile View B guy is slouching on an imaginary couch, drinking beer and either watching football or overseeing some serious hot tub frolicking.  He's probably a lot of fun to hang out with, but I bet he's always short on his share of the rent.

Who's "Cyndi", and who thought this pattern was perfect for her?  My guess is that Cyndi's passive aggressive older sister Lynnette bought this pattern and scrawled Cyndi's name on it.  Mr. View B reminded her of Cyndi's layabout husband Mike.  And while I bet Cyndi was initially excited to make a robe, I'm not surprised that she only got as far as cutting out 2 pieces.  Even in a classy plaid, Mike would always choose beer over books.