Blueprints of Fashion: Home Sewing Patterns of the 1940s

by Wade Laboissonniere

Once upon a time, most clothes were sewn at home. Now and ever after, home-sewing patterns will provide the best blueprint to a time when suddenly everyone could dress like the models in magazines. The most popular 1940s styles-from couture to everyday workclothes, ensembles, sportswear, lingerie, and evening dresses, plus toys, needlework and gifts-are presented here in 550 color photographs of pattern envelopes from companies like Advance, Butterick, Hollywood, McCall, Simplicity, Vogue, and others. For the home seamstress, this will be a trip back in time. For artists, costume designers, and collectors it's an invaluable guide. The text outlines the beginnings of the huge pattern industry, its evolution and impact on fashion. A wide array of pattern-related items is presented including publications and advertising, display dolls, tools, and various forms of packaging. The pattern envelope illustrations are wonderful period drawings of '40s fashions. A refreshing approach and an important first book on this growing field of interest.

Genres: Fashion, Sewing, Nonfiction, History

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

When you -- or, at least, when I -- read the title "Blueprints of Fashion: Home Sewing Patterns of the 1940s", I expect a book filled with patterns from the 1940s. There is not a single actual pattern: what there is is pictures of the sketches from the front covers of sewing patterns of the 1940s. Which was interesting enough for a few pages, but I was expecting to sew some nice dresses, and all I got was fashion sketches... and to top it off, there aren't even a dozen pages of text.

[Susan Elizabeth Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything from the 40s.