Vogue Pattern Book, December/January 1960

I got a real treat as a surprise in the mail this week!  As a gift from Paco, I received a copy of Vogue Pattern Book, December/January 1960.  I couldn't keep this treat all to myself, so I've decided to share with you some of the contents.

First, it does has advertisements, sewing and fashion related.  This is the back cover, advertising Indian Head cotton, in perfectly coordinating prints for your perfectly coordinating holiday party:

In the back, it shows all of the new patterns for the season with little line drawings.

This magazine still has the order form, if you'd like to order your pattern via the mail.

Here's a close up of part of the Couturier line.  Does #190 look familiar to anyone?

There are several articles in the magazine, and I'm going to feature a few today and a few tomorrow.  First, there is an article called, "Be a Holiday Beauty", featuring holiday party fashions.  This dress was featured and with a change in fabric looks very similar to a dress shown in the latest issue of Patrones - sleeveless halter style, sash and floor length, minus the cigarette holder, of course.

Compare with the Patrones dress:

This dress is also holiday party appropriate, in black lace over white satin, with red cumberbund.

It was this photo that struck me the most:

Look familiar?  It is Vogue Couturier #190, made up in rayon-acetate satin with Lurex paisley brocade.  Well if you haven't guessed it yet, VC #190 is the pattern that I used for Bluebird of Happiness, with, ahem, a few modifications!  The neat thing about this pattern magazine is that is also lists the sources for the shoes, handbags, jewelry, furs, etc. shown in the photos.  The purse is by Coblentz and the earrings by Vendome.  BTW, I was trolling through my local antique store today for vintage goodies and came across a Coblentz purse.  It was a beautiful chocolate brown suede and I'm tempted to go back and get it.

Along with this article was another one on how to work with several of those lovely special occasion fabrics:

There was also a feature on resort wear - interesting considering this week's challenge on Project Runway.  I'm pretty sure this outfit with reversible picnic tablecloth print skirt and head scarf wouldn't pass muster with Michael, Heidi or Nina, but this was resort wear in 1960.

Some of the other resort outfits weren't *too* bad:

There were even some cute yellow strappy sandals by Capezio, shown with a matching yellow dress, of course.

Another article featured a travel wardrobe, built on the mix and match concept:

One of my favorite things about the text of this article describing the wardrobe, why these patterns were chosen, the fabrications and eventual wearing of the pieces on a trip was this quote:

"The wide belt which came with the pattern was a little wrong for me, so I just left it off, and also changed the narrow underskirt to a gathered one, because I like the fullness for dancing.  (Don't ever be afraid to change a pattern to make it more yours.)" Emphasis mine, but tremendous advice from 1960 that still holds true today!

More from this issue tomorrow!

Parting Shot:  Guess Who.  This copy of the VPB featured an article on a particular Parisian couture house.  In the article were several pictures of the designer shown below (evaluating a muslin on a model).  Any guesses as to who this is?