October Trends Alert Vintage Pattern Style

By Amy Russo of ViennasGrace

Beach Pyjamas…lounging pajamas anyone?

Yes please! I’m not talking about the 20 something girls wandering the grocery store aisles in drawstring PJ’s at 2:00 in the afternoon. Or the default soccer mom attire of the black velour hoodie and sweatpants with writing across the derrière. I am talking about the introduction in the 1930’s of women’s high fashion resort wear. The sporty beach girl in palazzo pants and halters for day and the glamorous hostess wearing a satin jumpsuit for evening parties. First seen in these beach gals, although their tops could have used a bit more support, they are wearing the forerunner of today’s jumpsuits.

1930s Beach Gals

Here is some of the most glamorous women to ever reach the silver screen in lounging pajamas, the early jumpsuits in fashion………I have no doubt that these Hollywood starlets must have glided into the room wearing their fashion forward ensembles.

We would see glimpses here and there of the jumpsuit in the 1940s, but more for the women’s workforce in an overall style. The 1960s-70s brought a revival of the halter palazzo pants and many other views of the jumpsuit.

Although I am sure Elvis would declare himself king of the jumpsuit and all of Charlie’s Angels the Queen’s court, I am pretty sure that we did not see the true return of the jumpsuit royalty until the 2012 SAG awards.

Standing on the red carpet like a glimmering beauty, Rose Byrne set a new standard in an Elie Saab White crystal jumpsuit, and single handedly brought the return of the glamorous jumpsuit.

It has been a fashion statement that continues to evolve throughout the decades. Even Mylie Cyrus looks classic in her red bloused tapered leg jumpsuit. Many of today’s fashion loving celebrities are smart enough to know that jumpsuits make the right kind of fashion statement, at casual and formal occasions.

As with all celebrity and designer trends the ready to wear market will be showing us a much toned down version of the high fashion jumpsuit. For those DIY fashionistas, there are options galore in vintage sewing patterns. I say “bring it on”, don’t wait for ready to wear to catch up to the demands of true fashion. Time to toss aside a cookie cutter look this holiday season. If you want comfort and fashion, a 1960s pantdress pattern, can offer both. It would be perfect for holiday parties in a glimmery knit fabric. Leave behind the same, safe, little black dress, go for the 1970’s palazzo jumpsuit on New Year’s Eve. If you ever have the worries of being over or under dressed, wear a jumpsuit with a metallic heel, bring along a pair of ballet flats, for quick fashion adjustments. Oh, for those that are just not ready to 100% commit to the “one piece-ness” of a jumpsuit, then separates are your answer. A matching wide legged pant with a tucked in top can give the perfect illusion of the jumpsuit’s flattering lines. For those that shy away from showing too much or their waistline, add a cummerbund for extra definition, a peplum blouse, or even a coordinating flowy unline jacket. From the vintage to the retro, sewing patterns offer multitudes of cuts and styles for every body shape and each individual personality. And If you happen to have a 1930’s beach pyjama or lounging pajama pattern…what are you waiting for? Go get sewing you lucky glamour girl!

Links to patterns can be found HERE.

Links to patterns can be found HERE.

Here's Keywords to search for or Tags to use so you can find the perfect jumpsuit for you!

 Beach Pyjamas, Lounging Pajamas, Pantdress, Palazzo Pants, Wide Legged Pants, Wide Leg Pants, Flare pant leg, Full pant, Giant Pants, Jumpsuit, Romper, Flared Pants, Hostess PajamasHERE

August Fashion Trends Vintage Pattern Style

By Amy Russo of Vienna’s Grace

Well my curiosity candle was lit when Ellen from KinseySue, looking for team input, posted McCall’s 2170 from 1957. 

This crazy cap pattern reminded me of a fashion trend that had developed in Japan in the early 1990s.  I wondered, was it still an active trend?  Has Tokyo street fashion influenced current styles and fashion designers?  If all things were yes, is there an overlooked market for vintage sewing patterns?  So like another very curious girl, I took the leap and fell head first down, down, down the rabbit hole.

What I found was almost as unique and as ever changing as Alice herself in Wonderland.

But before we sit down at the Mad Hatter‘s Tea party, let me assure you that although some Tokyo street fashion can appear a little disturbing to the eye of the western world, it is in no way meant to be creepy or inappropriately toddler like, it is merely a fashion statement.  Maybe it is a way of blurring the lines of eras and age, rethinking time as timeless, and clothing becoming ageless …well better to show you in a language we all understand…actual images.  The clothing in the photos are not designed for costume events, this is everyday wear for many of these gals.  The pictured styles are American as well as Japanese, and other countries.

Here are some looks that started it all; these styles are called Harajuku, Decora, Gothic Lolita, Kawaii, and Fairy Kei.  A very condensed definition of these styles follows below and then see if you can match the word with the photo.

As a little experiment, I have added these words in titles and tags, where they could apply to my already listed patterns, that before had little interest.  I am getting favorites, sold one of the patterns and have had some of the words show in my search word stats, almost every day.  Many vintage clothing sellers are using these words and it’s time for us to join the party. The customer using these search words may just be dying for the option of vintage patterns, a little DIY Gothic Lolita.  All we need to do is put the right patterns in their path, and let’s give them choices and ideas.  Here are only a few terms/styles that may apply to some patterns you are sure to have in your inventory.

Harajuku: area of Tokyo where some of these trends took root.  Style-from the wild edgy look, blending the extreme Anime to Gothic, this word could be used along with all these others, almost an umbrella term of all these styles.

Kawaii-a style of sugary sweet cuteness, pretty.  From Hello Kitty to soft feminine styles. This word could be used along with any of the feminine styles, a style but also a descriptive word for extra cute styles.

Fairy Kei-a much more extreme version of Kawaii, blending cosplay (costume-play), anime characters, mainly pastels and nearing the classic Lolita style.

Decora-It is just 100 accessories too many, using multi-print mixing, bolder colors, and very busy tutus.

Gothic Lolita-This is the most current active style trend reaching across The British Territories and through the U.S. The name pretty much explains the style.  Princess fairytale in a mini-dress and military wool coat like Red Valentino is the more mainstream look.

These looks can be as extreme as the artsy girl dressed like a Victorian Doll with a bustle to the soccer mom wearing a tweed Spencer jacket over a floral high-waisted mini-dress. This style is wide spread and it is influencing designers left and right.  I think adding a few pieces to a wardrobe is quite fun,….I like it…..anyone else ready to take that tumble down the rabbit hole? 

July Fashion Trends Vintage Pattern Style

by Amy Russo of Vienna’s Grace

As I watched videos of Paris and New York fashion week for Autumn /Winter 2013-14 season, a dominate design element kept popping up; hip draping. From Christian Dior to Guy Laroche, I noticed designers placing an prominent accent on the hips. Some with elegant tiny hip pleats, like Carolina Herrera (….oh how I love her designs), and quite a few others with very heavy hip sashes, like seen below from Vera Wang and Balmain. So I set out to see if these classic yet unique design elements could be found or even mimicked in our vintage patterns. Although some of the heavy hip draping would not be of interest to many of our buyers, how could they get that fashion trend in a much more wearable way?

My eyes scoured page after page of Pattern Patter team members’ shops and I found so many ways to obtain the look of this hip draping trend. Below are just a few examples of the patterns and styles I joyfully discovered. You can see the illusion of hip width from a side bustle, gathered wide set pockets, and straight forward front seam rouching. I do think this has been a classic design trend for decades, but will it be in the ready to wear departments this fall? Well, if designers have anything to say about it, we will be seeing gathers, swags, hip pleats and side bustles. So when you are listing patterns for the Fall and Winter seamstress, take a closer look; does that 1940s dress drape or that 80s skirt swag? Try finding new and creative tags to describe this unique design element. Always remember to include patternpatter, the pattern era, bust size, and all the expected search phrases, but add one or two key descriptive words unique to the pattern. This will help the DIY fashion huntress add hip draping into her trendy, but not spendy wardrobe.

Here are just a few ideas to add into your listing title and tags: drape, drapey, draping, drapes, overskirt, hip, hips, hipline, girdle, ruching, ruched, swag, swags, Grecian, Greek, sarong, wrap front, gathers, gathering, gathered, pleat, pleated, pleats, pleating, side bustle, hip sash, sashes.

June Trends Alert

by Amy of ViennasGrace

Gucci spring/summer 2013

Elie Saab did it and so did Ralph Lauren, a big summer fashion trend that is showing up from ready to wear to high end fashion, ruffles. Sometimes as a dramatic flounce flowing down a caftan, an asymmetric jabot placed perfectly on a one shoulder blouse, or feminine ruffles spinning around a soft tiered floral skirt.

Ralph Lauren spring/summer 2013

We see the changes in the use of ruffles throughout the decades in our sewing patterns. In the 1940s an 

off the shoulder blouse or sundress frequently had a single or double ruffled neckline. Late 50s and early 60s used ruffles more as a trim, showing up on collars or finishing off hem lines. The 70s disco scene had a great look, using soft cascading waves down the front of a wrap dress. Let’s not forget the 1980s use of ruffles, blouses adorned with high neck jabots and the multi tiered skirts seen on numerous prom dresses and bridal gowns.

Top row CherryCorners Butterick 3511, AdeleBeeAnnPatterns Butterick 4801, CloesCloset Vogue 2218, retromonkeys Simplicity 1628

Bottom row Vogue 6403, allthepresiousthings Vogue 6229, RomasMaison McCall's 4269, DesignRewindFashions Vogue 9667

So as the peak of summer is nearly here, keep the fashion savvy seamstress in mind. She won’t be shopping in the high dollar designer stores, She will be hunting for the latest summer trends in all our lovely vintage patterns. Use your listing descriptions and tags creatively so she can easily find that special blouse with rows of ruffles and that perfect glamorous party dress with a flounce.