Pattern Patter

By Sherri of Sew Betty and Dot

In keeping with the Pattern Patter team's festive treasury focus this month--Holiday Cocktail Party-let's take a look at all the ways you can cover up--and MAYBE stay warm--on the way to your party. I say "maybe" stay warm because some of these are really more decorative than practical. Doesn't that define fashion, in a certain sense?

The focus here is on capes, capelets, shawls, stoles, boleros, and long or opera coats. I'll look at more practical outerwear in a future post.

A (very) brief history of capes: everyone, men and women, used to wear cloaks, long (to the feet) and shapeless garments with slits for one's arms--in early days, these cloaks often doubled as people's blankets. Cloaks began to be more structured garments, and they developed collars and a piece that draped over the shoulders: the cape.

As women's fashions became more exuberant--especially the sleeves and the skirt shape--the cloak began to be shorter. Think of the bustle: cloaks would have hidden that feature (and made women look even more odd, with a bustle causing the cloak to protrude in the back).

Left: Man's cloak, French, 1580-1600, V&A Museum, from commons.wikimedia.com
Center: Spanish cloaks from 1848 English tailoring guide, from BlackTieGuide.com
Right: Woman's cape, English, 1830. Courtesy LACMA, from commons.wikimedia.org

What patterns are available for YOU to use to make your own formalwear cover-up? Check it out!

As always, please click on the images to enlarge them to see more detail.

Captivating capes and capelets:

Top row: Simplicity 3986: PinkPolkaDotButton

Vogue 6914: VioletCrownEmporium

Simplicity 1889: FriskyScissors

Middle row: Advance 5334: sydcam123

McCall’s 8719: SutlersSundries

Simplicity 8446: VirtualVintage

Bottom row: Yves Saint Laurent:Vogue 1897: CloesCloset

Vogue8725: ViennasGrace

Butterick 6358: MantuaMakerPatterns

Stunning stoles and shawls:

Top row: Woman’s Day 5045: PeoplePackages

Butterick 5699: JFerrariDesigns

Simplicity 2964: retromonkeys

Middle row: McCall’s 9577: GreyDogVintage

McCall 8437: SoVintageOnEtsy

Lanvin-Castillo: Vogue 1162: PattysPastTimes

Bottom row: Pauline Trigere: McCall’s 1085: CaliforniaSunset

Pucci: Vogue 2603: retromonkeys

Vogue 8151: PatternMatters

Beautiful boleros:

Top row: Butterick 4696: Fancywork

Hollywood 1336: PinkPolkaDotButton

McCall’s 1619: FloradoraPresents

Middle row: Advance 4897: GreyDogVintage

Simplicity 1549: PatternShop

McCall's 8472: VintageNeedleFinds

Bottom row: Advance 5666: Sandritocat

Butterick 7221: PatternMatters

Simplicity 9364: RebeccasVintageSalon

And finally, some fascinating formal coats (and let's not forget the dolls!):

Top row: Simplicity 6219: AdeleBeeAnn

Patou Vogue 2029: AnnesVintagePatterns

Simonetta Vogue 1651: AllThePreciousThings

Middle row: Dior Vogue 2127: sewbettyanddot

Simplicity 7283: LagunaLane

Blass Vogue 1315: MidvaleCottage

Bottom row: McCall’s 2255: ViennasGrace

McCall’s 3138: PatternsFromThePast

McCall’s 4127: DesignRewindFashions

How do YOU stay warm when you're dressed in your party frock? Tell us in the comments!

I have to admit that I did once go to the L.A. Opera in a Max Studio long dress, Doc Martens, and a black motorcycle jacket. Ahem. It WAS the early 1980s!

Please be sure to shop with the team on Black Friday...lots of shops will be having smokin' sales, so stay tuned!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Black Friday Blitz and SALE Alert!!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Focus On: Formal Outerwear

Vintage Pattern Collective

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