Searching for, collecting and utilising vintage couture sewing patterns of the past era, that is the 1920's to the 1970's, can be fun, addictive and rewarding.

Fun, because you can afford to constantly experiment with the various kinds of vintage sewing patterns available, or utilise the new Computer Aided Designs (CAD) of clothes patterns which you can download and use.

To become an addict is to become a collector. You simply love to find rare patterns, catalogue them and display them, for friends and family to admire.

However, the rewarding part is that you can start a business by becoming a reseller of vintage patterns, by re-producing old dated patterns, draw them out on a CAD application and sell as downloadable patterns.

Better still, if you are a seamstress, who buys vintage patterns to make unique dresses to wear yourself, you can make unique styles from these patterns, and sell exclusively to a few select clients.

Whatever group you fall under, be different and unique, and be a woman of style by going the vintage couture way.

This you can achieve by finding and purchasing vintage sewing patterns spanning the couture style of the 20's to the 70's. The era of high couture fashion in my opinion.

Vintage Inspired? Why?

Your love for the vintage may have been inspired by any of the following:

Your appreciation for the artistry of pattern envelopes. These antique and vintage pattern envelope may interest you enough to want to preserve the lovely artworks.

Vintage couture patterns remind you of your grandmothers chic dress in that framed black & white photograph sitting on the mantelpiece.

You want to preserve a pictorial era of style and fashion for women through time, and recognise the changing roles and designs for women through history.

The vintage Vogue Designs appeal to you, and you want to relive the vintage haute couture of the 1900's, and wear it well too, if you possibly can.

You absolutely adore those elegant gowns, strapless one strap or halter.

You want those chic cocktail dresses screaming old Hollywood, and the full skirted or slim figure hugging clothing.

How about the elegant business suits and the fabulous 1940's playsuits, jump suits, pencil skirts, circle skirts and day dresses.

Or the day and evening halter tops and blouses. Try the lounging trousers and the chic coat patterns.

Don't forget the absolutely famous wrap around dresses from Diane Von Furstenberg. Or the Empire cut dresses.

Any which way, acquiring vintage sewing patterns, is a blast from the past for many fashion enthusiasts, and they absolutely love it.

So are you surprised vintage couture is now the rave?

Finding Vintage and Antique Sewing Patterns

To find these vintage and antique patterns, you will need to:

Visit thrift stores

Rummage through yard sales or boot sales

Drop by during estate sales and find the rarest patterns

Go to auctions of vintage and antique stuff Check on eBay

Try online pattern sellers venues Dig for finds in your own basement

You will find that many of these patterns are complete with all the pieces counted, and in most cases, never used and still factory folded. And you can even find some packages with the original silk labels to sew onto your outfit.

In a few cases, there may be some missing parts, such as the envelopes, instructions or even some few pattern pieces. That's why you need to be careful when buying vintage sewing patterns..

You don’t need to worry much though about missing envelopes. These can be reproduced if you really have to have them.

Pieces such as trims or facings, if missing, need not bother you. However, never purchase patterns with missing instructions. You may never be able to figure out how to put the style together, and, they are definitely un-reproducible without a master.

Look out especially for vintage Vogue Paris Originals, Vogue Couture Design patterns, or Vogue Special Designer antique and vintage patterns. Other reputable pattern makers are Butterick, Hollywood, Advance, Simplicity, McCall's and DuBarry.

1920's

A radical change in fashion couture emerged soon after the war. Dresses with long trains gave way to above the knee dresses and pinafores. Bouffant coiffures gave way to short bobs, and there was no more need for corsets because women clothing tended towards dressing like a boy.

At first, many couturiers were reluctant to adopt the new  style, but then, they embraced them fully from around the mid twenties.  A flat bosomed, waist-less style emerged and by then, dressing-down was mitigated by feather boas, embroidery, and showy accessories.

1930's

Couture fashion became more romantic. Waistlines returned and the hems dropped.  The bust re-appears and the backless evening attire, and soft  slim fitting day dresses, become appreciated.

The female body, slim and toned  became the vogue, as outdoor activities increased. This new found athleticism stimulated designers  to begin the production of sportswear,  another term for 'ready to wear'  in the 30's.

1940's

 This was back in the old days when "Made in China" was a good thing!  There were elegant and  glamorous hostess gowns, even worn for informal parties at home. Fabulous fabrics used include heavyweight silk and rayon blends,  jacquard fabrics, light sage silk embroideries, echoing designs of motifs such as roses and buds.

1950's

There was a new femininity in women's fashion. The clothes became more conventional, and women wore scarlet lips and fingernails. Dior's New Look influenced softer shoulders, corseted waists, and fuller longer skirts aided by petticoats. Corsets held their place in a woman's wardrobe, as the ideal body figure was the figure eight hour-glass shape, essentially  to attract a man for marriage.

1960's

In the sixties, there was 'revolt' against fashion houses by hippies, rockers and mods. The internationalisation of the fashion scene also contributed to this in no small measure. From the early 60's, the skirts  started to reduce in length, culminating in the mini by 1965. Thus the quintessential girlie look of the 60's evolved.

1970's

The aesthetics of inspired retro couture dresses became evident in mainstream fashion with the comeback  of flares, bells, fly collars, the low-rise pants and platform heels, just to mention a few.

retro couture dresses is a concept of 'retro chic', developed by the Parisian avante garde. It embraces the use of period styles from where we could almost say -the past becomes a storehouse for fashion.

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