Vintage Vogue Designer Sewing Patterns

Haute Couture is a French term denoting elite custom-fitted clothing and is an apt term to be used in concert with vintage Vogue sewing patterns. The original application of the term was made regarding Charles Frederick Worth and the clothing he designed in Paris during the mid-19^th century. Today the term haute couture is what is called "protected" and can only be applied to clothing and designs that meet a specific level of quality defined by high standards. Typically it continues to be used to describe high-fashion custom-fitted clothing produced not only in Paris but Milan, London, Rome, Florence, Tokyo, and New York.

Vogue Patterns began producing designer patterns in 1949. They had the idea of extending the availability of haute couture to the masses by partnering with leading French Couturiers and using photographs of Paris runway models wearing designer styled clothing that could be sewn at home.

Vogue Magazine started the practice of featuring a weekly pattern in their magazine in 1899. This pattern was available in only one size (36" bust), it cost $.50, was available by mail only-if you had a coupon. This was such a popular adventure that by the year 1905, only 7 years after its' inception, the once-a-week pattern program had expanded into its' own Pattern Department.

Conde Nast bought Vogue Magazine and by 1914 Vogue pattern designs were so popular and in such demand the Vogue Pattern Company was established . It was in 1916 that Vogue Patterns began to be available in department stores. Sometime in the first few years of the 1930's, Vogue Patterns became the pattern of choice in Ladies Home Journal. Up to this time, Ladies Home Journal featured their own pattern line called HOME patterns. According the the website called Heaven's to Betsy Patterns, the Vogue Pattern line grew and expanded and in this expansion created several categories of patterns including: 1) their Regular line, 2) a Children's line, 3) a Special Design line, and 4) their Couture line.

As the pattern lines grew, the Vogue Pattern Company devised a numbering system to keep patterns organized. It would be lovely if the pattern number was a consistent method for identifying the date of a vintage Vogue pattern, but it is not. In order to be able to date a pattern, there are several things you need to look for: the picture or silhouette or photograph on the pattern envelop, the hair style and hat pictured with the silhouette-if applicable, the sizing information, the price, the style of envelop, the copyright date, and the style of logo.

All of these variables have to be considered when dating a pattern, but keep in mind - even if you do all of your homework in dating a Vogue pattern, it still may not be an indication of the exact date. Many vintage Vogue patterns were produced over several years or the number might be a re-release of a previously used number. The science of dating vintage Vogue patterns is not really a science. It is good science and then a good guess.

Being a vintage Vogue pattern collector is a great hobby as there is a lot of room for research and being a detective. If you love to use vintage Vogue patterns to make clothing for yourself or others, there are many, many designer patterns to choose from. Take a look at the resources listed at the end of this article to find online sources for purchasing vintage Vogue patterns or for learning more about the history of the Vogue Pattern Company.

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