Usually I'm a sucker for excess, especially in my vintage patterns. Bows? Ruffles? Pleats? Odd little wings? Gigantic collars? Western style bodysuits? Bring 'em all on -- I can't get enough!
But every so often, a pattern comes along that reminds me how beautiful a simple design can be. This week I glimpsed Vogue 2774 on the Vintage Patterns Wiki and fell in love:
The classic A-line -- the way the curved shirttail hem echoes the neckline -- the simple collar -- it all just works. In brown. Doesn't it strike you as the kind of pattern that you'd be doing a disservice to if you made it in a print?
Or how about this Jacques Heim pattern, Vogue 1513 ? It's another Vogue Paris Original.
From the looks of the pattern drawing,it's only four main pieces -- upper front/back and lower front/back:
Simple and gorgeous! Of course, the only thing I could do in a dress like that is emulate the model. Go for the bangs -- no prob -- do the dramatic eye makeup -- spent a while in my 20s doing that look, so I'm good to go with that. Contorting my body so that my jutting hipbone and sleek thighs press through the material, while my stomach is nowhere in evidence? I'll start practicing now.