Inspired by Lost Horizon
August 3, 2018 § 2 Comments
Olivia Hussey in Lost Horizon (1973) Image: Pinterest.
Olivia Hussey has an autobiography out, reminding us of a legendary bomb: the musical Lost Horizon. Naturally, there was a pattern tie-in.
Ross Hunter’s Lost Horizon (1973) was adapted from James Hilton’s bestselling novel about Shangri-La, with costumes by the great Jean Louis.
Lost Horizon poster by Howard Terpning. Image: eBay.
There had been another Lost Horizon, in the 1930s, but it didn’t have music by Burt Bacharach.
Lost Horizon original soundtrack LP. Image: eBay.
McCall’s released at least ten patterns in its Lost Horizon-inspired series. The film opened in March, but the patterns came out later in the year. Two Carefree and Extra-Carefree styles from the series in the Fall 1973 Carefree catalogue:
Lost Horizon-inspired designs in McCall’s Carefree Home Catalog, Fall 1973. Image: Etsy.
The pattern envelopes bear a tiny version of the film graphics.
Did the hippie trail reach Tibet? Some of the Lost Horizon-inspired patterns look like contemporary western clothing, but most nod to Jean Louis’ fantasia of traditional Tibetan dress, textiles, and embellishment.
McCall’s 3701 (1973) Image: Vintage Patterns Wiki.
McCalls 3679 (1973) Image: Etsy.
McCall’s 3684 (1973) Image: Vintage Patterns Wiki.
McCall’s 3697 (1973) Image: Etsy.
Of the two designs for men and women, this robe was the most popular. The men’s and women’s caftan came with its own embroidery transfers.
McCall’s 3738 (1973) Image: Vintage Patterns Wiki.
McCall’s 3685 (1973) Image: Etsy.
Unfortunately there’s no pattern for Hussey’s saffron robes.
Olivia Hussey’s saffron robes in Lost Horizon (1973) Image: Pinterest.
McCall’s Pattern Fashions, Summer 1971
July 26, 2018 § 1 Comment
Lauren Hutton on the cover of McCall’s Pattern Fashions, Summer 1971. Photo: Myron Miller.
Lauren Hutton frolics in Martinique for McCall’s seasonal pattern book. Hutton wears two-piece swimsuit McCall’s 9704 in orange cotton velour.
More beachwear: Heat Wave! and vintage designer swimwear.
McCall’s x Canada Dry, 1971
July 1, 2018 § Leave a comment
McCall’s 2761 (1971) Canada Dry “Pounds-Thinner” pattern.
Happy Canada Day! In celebration, here’s a Canada Dry pattern from McCall’s.
Established in Toronto in 1904, by the ’70s Canada Dry was owned by Norton Simon, which was also McCall’s parent company. Canada Dry’s new low-calorie, sugar-free sodas showed a woman in a black leotard to match the branding for McCall’s Pounds-Thinner pattern line. New in 1971, the line is problematic today for its body-negativity.
This Canada Dry pattern envelope is a special alternate. (Compare the more often seen catalogue version.) Instead of the usual Pounds-Thinner branding, there’s a charming Biba-style illustration in colours to match the soda packaging.
Sewing and Smoking
May 31, 2018 § 3 Comments
Detail, Virginia Slims advertisement, 1975.
Today is World No Tobacco Day. Here’s a look at a Virginia Slims ad that ran in Vogue Patterns magazine.
The mid-’70s ad—with the famous You’ve come a long way, baby slogan—contrasts the fashionable, contemporary Cheryl Tiegs with the Edwardian “Mrs. Florine Knauff,” caught smoking during a fox hunt. Along the lower left-hand side, the caption reads, Fashions: Vogue Patterns.
Virginia Slims advertisement in Vogue Patterns, January/February 1975.
Doesn’t Tiegs’ green dress look a lot like Emanuel Ungaro’s goddess gown?
Vogue 1135 by Emanuel Ungaro (1974)
The popular design was reissued in 2001 (as V7521).
A handful of ’70s Virginia Slims ads credit Vogue Patterns, most notably this Yves Saint Laurent couture pyjama, as worn by Beverly Johnson:
Virginia Slims advertisement, 1973. Image: Stanford Research into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising (SRITA).
Vogue 2912 by Yves Saint Laurent (1973) Image: Paco Peralta.
There were even promotional Virginia Slims sewing kits. This one contains FDR-made upholstery needles:
Virginia Slims needle pack cover. Image: Etsy.
Virginia Slims needle pack. Image: Etsy.
Click the Beverly Johnson ad to learn more about SRITA, Stanford’s tobacco advertising project.
In the Orchard
March 1, 2018 § 4 Comments
Vogue 8103 in Vogue Pattern Book, 1971. Photo: Arthur Elgort.
Arthur Elgort photographed this Miss Vogue design, Vogue 8103, ca. 1971. Shown in Abraham sheer wool challis, and apparently cut on the bias to play with the check. Note the covered button detail.
Glow, Holiday 1979
December 21, 2017 § 3 Comments
Tara Shannon wears Yves Saint Laurent’s V2337 in Vogue Patterns, November/December 1979, “Glow” editorial. Photo: Albert Watson.
Perfume: Opium, of course!
Yves Saint Laurent’s Chinese tunic got a lot of exposure during the 1979-80 holiday season. The cover of Vogue’s January 1980 retail catalogue also shows a version of this shot. (See Make Mine Vogue.) The pattern is Vogue 2337.
Happy holidays, everyone.
Patterns in Vogue: Gia in Versace, 1979
December 7, 2017 § Leave a comment
Detail, Gia Carangi in Vogue, July 1979. Photo: Alex Chatelain.
2017 is officially the year of Versace. To mark the 20th anniversary of her brother’s death, Donatella Versace has been returning to the house’s heritage, most notably with a surprise finale to her spring runway show. But if it’s that ’90s supermodel moment—glamazons lip-synching George Michael—that we remember best, let us not forget Versace’s equally glamorous beginnings.
Early in Gianni Versace’s career, Vogue magazine featured one of his Vogue patterns, as worn by the young Gia Carangi. The pleated blouse, pants, and cummerbund were shown in black and white silk taffeta.
Gia Carangi in Vogue 2025 by Gianni Versace. Vogue, July 1979. Photo: Alex Chatelain.
The pattern is a Genny design:
Vogue 2025 by Gianni Versace for Genny (1978) Model: Karen Bjornson.
For more on Versace’s licensed patterns from the late ’70s and early ’80s, see my 2-part series: 1. Versace for Genny and Complice and 2. Gianni Versace.
