Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Like Mother, Like Daughter (The Simplicity Way)

By Sherri of SewBettyandDot

Did you and your mother ever dress alike? I know that my mom, at least once, made us matching Easter dresses and coats. 

While other companies certainly made mother/daughter patterns—the Vintage Pattern Wiki has a 1925 Pictorial Review “Me and Ma” apron pattern, and there are numerous Hollywood mother/daughter patterns from the 1930s—Simplicity began to issue numerous “Mother and Daughter Fashion” patterns in the 1940s and have continued to do so to this day. Let’s take a look at some matching mom and child patterns from the forties and fifties.

Apron patterns were quite popular, and these often had both mother and daughter apron pieces in the same envelope.
1950s Vintage Apron Pattern Simplicity 4139 Mother Daughter Half or Full Bib Apron Pattern One Size
Simplicity 4139: GreyDogVintage
Vintage Apron Pattern - McCall's 1641 - Vtg 1951 - Short Aprons for Mother and Daughter - One Size
Simplicity 1641: ThePatternSource
But not always: here is an example of two patterns, one for a little girl, one for mom.
Simplicity 4636 - Darling Girls 1940s Vintage PInafores, Dresses, Aprons, SO CUTE - Alice in Wonderland
Simplicity 4636: Clutterina
1940s Vintage Womens Apron Dress Pattern Or Pinafore Simplicity 4632 Sz 14
Simplicity 4632: KallieDesigns
In many cases, Simplicity would list on the back of each mother/daughter pattern what the corresponding mother (or daughter) pattern was. For example:
Mother Patterns Source: 1 2 3 4
Daughter Pattern Source: 1 2 3 4 

Some patterns don’t have the corresponding pattern numbers for the mother or daughter outfits, for example: 
1950s Dress Pattern Vintage Simplicity 3485 Mother Daughter Variations Unused Pattern
Simplicity 3485: FloradoraPresents
Vintage 1950s Misses Robe in Two Lengths, Mother and Daughter Fashion Size 14 Simplicity 4005 Sewing Pattern 50s
Simplicity 4005: PatternPalooza

It’s really fun to search and find these matching outfits. It’s so interesting, too, to examine the envelope art and see the similarities in poses and hairstyles. Me…and Mini-Me, the Simplicity way!

5 comments:

  1. How fun! I remember my mom making my sister and me matching outfits, but not one to match hers. I'd have loved that.

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  2. Another home run! Love this blog entry, well done SewBetty! I've shared it all over town ;)

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  3. I remember Sundays watching the parade of moms and daughters dressed alike in church. Same shoes. Same hats. I was so envious. But my mom would dress me and my sisters alike so I guess that counts too. Great memories. Thanks for this post!

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  4. Awwwww!


    Actually, I was the eldest of 3 girls. My mother dressed us all alike....EEEEP!

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  5. Beautiful pattern selections! My daughter's and I have a tradition of wearing matching footie pajamas on movie nights. I hope they will always love these times as I do. - Design Rewind Fashions

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