Bill Blass – PatternVault

1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

Designer Swimwear: Vintage Patterns

August 9, 2016September 17, 2018by Sarah Sheehan8 Comments

1980s Bob Mackie swimsuit pattern McCall's 7138 photographed for McCall's summer news flier — McCall’s 7138 by Bob Mackie on the cover of McCall’s news, July 1980.

It’s been another hot summer here in Toronto. One of my earliest blog posts, Heat Wave!, surveys vintage beachwear patterns. This summer, let’s take a look at a more elusive beast: designer swimwear patterns.

1950s

The earliest pattern I’ve seen for designer swimwear is Pucci’s strapless one-piece, McCall’s 3977. This pattern was available in Junior sizes only. The suit was lined in jersey, and could be made with or without the brightly coloured appliqués:

1960s

From another Italian designer, Irene Galitzine, Vogue 1288 is a pattern for a bikini, dress, and hat. The bikini consists of a cropped, cowl-neck blouse and bikini pants with side ties:

1970s

The 1970s were the heyday of designer swimwear patterns, often with a coordinating coverup, and always for stretch knits. Vogue 1416 is an early design by Donna Karan; from Anne Klein’s collaboration with Penfold, the pattern includes both a maillot and a halter bikini:

From Bill Blass, Vogue 1455 includes a two-piece swimsuit with bra top and bikini briefs:

1970s Bill Blass jacket, pants, and swimsuit pattern Vogue 1455 — Vogue 1455 by Bill Blass (1976)

John Kloss licensed a number of swimwear designs with Butterick. This ad promotes his patterns with a poolside photo of Butterick 4808:

Only Butterick has patterns designed by John Kloss. 1976 Butterick / John Kloss ad — Butterick 4808 by John Kloss, Butterick advertisement, 1976. Image: eBay.

Another Butterick designer, Gil Aimbez, designed this one-piece bathing suit. Contrast bias binding outlines the cut-away sides and bodice seaming detail:

1970s Gil Aimbez swimsuit and coverup pattern Butterick 5449 — Butterick 5449 by Gil Aimbez (ca. 1977) Image: Etsy.

Like the Anne Klein Penfold pattern above, this Penfold pattern includes both one-piece and halter bikini bathing suits. The one-piece and bikini top are cut on the bias:

1970s Penfold pattern Vogue 1655 — Vogue 1655 by Penfold (ca. 1977) Image: Vintage Patterns Wiki.

Both Penfold patterns can be seen in a Vogue Patterns editorial photographed in Antigua:

1970s Anne Klein / Penfold halter bikini pattern by Donna Karan, Vogue 1416 in Vogue Patterns magazine — Beach beauty: halter bikini Vogue 1416 by Donna Karan at Anne Klein for Penfold, *Vogue Patterns*, May/June 1977. Model: Clotilde. Photo: Albert Watson. Image: TFS.

Newest waterways - Vogue Patterns May/Jun 1977 Penfold — Vogue 1655 by Penfold with Vogue 9808, *Vogue Patterns*, May/June 1977. Models: Lisa Cooper and Clotilde. Photos: Albert Watson. Image: TFS.

From spring, 1978, Vogue 1893 seems to have been the only Catalina pattern. Instead of a coverup, it includes three styles of bathing suit: low-backed view A, strapless view B with built-in boning, and blouson view C is a two-piece:

1970s Catalina swimsuit pattern Vogue 1893 — Vogue 1893 by Catalina (1978) Image: Etsy.

The magazine recommended making the Catalina suits in Thompson of California’s “second skin Tic Toc warp knit polyester crepes” in various prints:

Vogue 1893 by Catalina in Vogue Patterns May/June 1978 — Vogue 1893 by Catalina, *Vogue Patterns*, May/June 1978. Image: Vintage Goodness.

1980s

From 1980, McCall’s 7109 includes three one-piece swimsuits by the Italian label Basile: a mock wrap, belted halter-neck and variations on the strapless suit with gathered bust (available in the shop):

Jerry Hall (right) seems to be wearing the view A style in this Basile ad photographed by Irving Penn:

vogue italia 1980 penn basile — Basile advertisement in *Vogue Italia*, 1980. Photo: Irving Penn. Models: Michelle Stevens and Jerry Hall. Image: TFS.

Also from 1980, Bob Mackie’s strapless, colour-blocked swimsuit, McCall’s 7138, was photographed for the July counter catalogue and news leaflet (seen at the top of this post):

1980s Bob Mackie swimsuit and cover-up pattern McCall's 7138 — McCall’s 7138 by Bob Mackie (1980) Image: Etsy.

1990s

Finally, this early ’90s DKNY pattern, Vogue 2897, is labelled ‘dress and bodysuit,’ but was photographed as beachwear:

After a long swimwear pattern drought, the big pattern companies seem to have noticed the renewed popularity of sewing your own, custom bathing suit. For this summer, Simplicity reissued a 1950s bathing suit pattern, Simplicity 4307 / S8139, and The McCall Pattern Company has released a number of new swimwear designs, including one Vogue and two Lisette swimwear patterns.

Two designers with existing pattern licensing, Cynthia Rowley and Rachel Comey, both have swimwear lines. If we voice our support, perhaps we could soon see patterns for Cynthia Rowley surf wear and Rachel Comey Swim…

Cynthia Rowley for Roxy wetsuit, 2010 — Wetsuit by Cynthia Rowley for Roxy, 2010. Image: Pinterest.

Willy Somma self-portrait for Rachel Comey Swim, 2013 — Willy Somma self-portrait for Rachel Comey Swim, *T Magazine*, May 2013. Image: nytimes.com.

1970s, 1980s, Surveys

Vintage Designer Menswear: Vogue Patterns

June 15, 2014October 11, 2018by Sarah Sheehan5 Comments

It’s been some time since Vogue offered designer menswear patterns. In the 1970s and 1980s, home sewers could choose from licensed designs for everything from men’s shirts to outerwear and three-piece suits. In celebration of Father’s Day, here’s a selection of vintage menswear patterns from Vogue Patterns.

1970s

Vogue introduced designer menswear patterns in the early 1970s with designs by Bill Blass and Pierre Cardin. From Cardin, Vogue 2918 is a double-breasted coat in two lengths:

1975 saw the release of some his-and-hers Valentino patterns. Vogue 1180, a men’s jacket and pants pattern, was photographed with a women’s Valentino ensemble, Vogue 1178:

Polo by Ralph Lauren was introduced to Vogue customers in the summer of 1975. The safari-style Vogue 1237 and 1238 were photographed in India:

Polo Ralph Lauren men's patterns in Vogue Patterns May June 1975 — Vogue 1237 and 1238 by Polo Ralph Lauren in Vogue Patterns, May/June 1975. Photos: Steve Horn. Image: Make Mine Vogue.

Also by Polo Ralph Lauren, Vogue 1581 is a double-breasted trench coat with detachable lining:

1970s Polo Ralph Lauren trench coat pattern Vogue American Designer 1581 — Vogue 1581 by Polo by Ralph Lauren (c. 1977)

This Christian Dior shirt-jacket and pants is the only men’s Dior pattern I’ve seen:

1970s Christian Dior men's shirt-jacket and pants pattern - Vogue 1609 — Vogue 1609 by Christian Dior (ca. 1977) Image: PatternVault shop.

This snappy three-piece suit is by Bill Blass:

1970s Bill Blass men's 3-piece suit pattern - Vogue 1620 — Vogue 1620 by Bill Blass (1977) Image: patronescostura on Etsy.

There were two menswear patterns by Yves Saint Laurent: safari suits photographed by Chris von Wangenheim (see Paco’s related post here):

Yves Saint Laurent men's patterns in Vogue Patterns March April 1977 — Vogue 1645 and 1644 by Yves Saint Laurent in *Vogue Patterns*, March/April 1977. Photos: Chris von Wangenheim. Image: Paco Peralta.

Givenchy licensed a trim three-piece suit, Vogue 2112:

1970s Givenchy menswear pattern - Vogue Paris Original 2112 — Vogue 2112 by Givenchy (1979) Image: PatternVault shop.

In 1979 the company released a trio of menswear patterns by Calvin Klein—separate patterns for a shirt, jacket, and pants. Vogue 2256 is a pattern for slim, tapered men’s pants; view B is low-rise and flat-front:

1970s Calvin Klein men's trousers pattern - Vogue 2256 — Vogue 2256 by Calvin Klein (1979) Image: Etsy.

1980s

The menswear releases tapered off in the 1980s. 1980 saw the release of two Bill Blass men’s patterns, for a three-piece suit and close-fitting shirt:

In 1988 Vogue released three menswear patterns by Perry Ellis, for a jacket, shirt, and pants. Vogue 2207 is a loose-fitting jacket:

1980s Perry Ellis men's jacket pattern - Vogue 2207 — Vogue 2207 by Perry Ellis (1988) Image: Vintage Patterns Wiki.

Just for fun, I’ll close with this Pierre Cardin robe and pajamas, which included a logo appliqué:

1970s Pierre Cardin men's pajamas and robe pattern - Vogue 2798 - moustachioed man on telephone — Vogue 2798 by Pierre Cardin (c. 1972) Image: Etsy.

With menswear sales catching up with womenswear, perhaps Vogue Patterns will capitalize on this trend by restoring menswear to its designer licensing. I’d be first in line for a Saint Laurent pattern…

Happy Father’s Day!

1960s, Designers

Mad Men Era 8: McCall’s New York Designers

April 14, 2014April 25, 2014by Sarah Sheehan2 Comments

Jane and Roger at the Drapers' party, Mad Men season 5, episode 1-2 — Jane and Roger Sterling (Peyton List and John Slattery) in *Mad Men*, season 5. Image via AMC.

With Mad Men entering its final season, my Mad Men-era series concludes with two posts on fashion designers whose work became available to home sewers in the mid-Sixties. (Browse the series by clicking the Mad Men era tag, or start at the beginning.)

Before the Vogue Americana line there was McCall’s New York Designers’ Collection. In the fall of 1965, McCall’s introduced a new pattern line: New York Designers’ Collection plus 1. (The “plus 1” refers to one foreign designer, Digby Morton; later, as McCall’s added designers to the line, it became “New York Designers’ Collection Plus.”)

The Fall/Winter 1965 issue of McCall’s Pattern Fashions & Home Decorating introduced readers to the new designers. According to the catalogue, the new line featured “the most outstanding fashions of seven leading American designers and one famous London couturier” (click to enlarge):

Meet McCalls New Designers 1965 — Meet McCall’s new designers. *McCall’s Pattern Fashions & Home Decorating*, Fall-Winter 1965–66.

The original list of designers consisted of Larry Aldrich, Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass, Laird-Knox, Digby Morton, Originala, Mollie Parnis, and Pauline Trigère, whose agreement with McCall’s dated to the mid-1950s. (Trigère was already featured in an earlier Mad Men era post.) Later additions would include Anne Klein, Jacques Tiffeau, and Rudi Gernreich.

This post looks at three of the best-known American designers in McCall’s new line: Bill Blass, Geoffrey Beene, and Anne Klein.

Bill Blass

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Bill Blass (1922-2002) showed an early talent for fashion design, studying briefly at Parsons before enlisting in the U.S. military in 1942. After the war he returned to New York to work in the fashion industry; by 1959 he was head designer for Maurice Rentner—then a conservative, established Seventh Avenue label. (McCall’s patterns credit the designer as ‘Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner, Ltd.’) In 1970 he purchased the company and renamed it Bill Blass Ltd. Blass was known for his sophisticated but youthful designs favoured by high society. He retired in 1999.

McCall’s 8927 is an asymmetrical, sleeveless shift dress with applied bands and an inverted pleat on the left-hand side:

1960s Bill Blass dress pattern - McCall's 8927 — McCall’s 8927 by Bill Blass (1967) Image via Etsy.

Geoffrey Beene

Born in Louisiana as Samuel Robert Bozeman Jr., Geoffrey Beene (1924-2004) trained at the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York and École de la Chambre Syndicale in Paris, where he also apprenticed with a tailor. Returning to New York, he worked at Harmay and Teal Traina before founding his own company in 1963. Beene was renowned for his innovative, modern designs, as well as his iconoclasm.

Veronica Hamel models McCall’s 1028, a dress cut in seven panels with seven-eighths kimono sleeves and triangular, bias collar:

McCalls 1028 (1968) — McCall’s 1028 by Geoffrey Beene (1968) Image via Etsy.

Anne Klein

Born in Brooklyn as Hannah Golofsky, Anne Klein (1923-1974) also trained at the Traphagen School of Fashion. The pioneer in American sportswear worked in petites and juniors before founding Anne Klein and Company in the late 1960s. Her final collection was completed by Donna Karan, who had begun work at the company in the summer of 1967 as Klein’s intern.

McCall’s 1020 is a sleeveless shift dress with angular armholes and fabulous standing (and convertible) collar. The model is Hellevi Keko:

McCalls 1020 (1967) — McCall’s 1020 by Anne Klein (1967) Image via MOMSPatterns.

All three New York designers would later make the switch to Vogue Patterns: Blass in 1967, Beene and Klein in the 1970s.

Next: Butterick’s Young Designers: Mary Quant, Jean Muir, and Emmanuelle Khanh.

1960s

Lauren Hutton

August 8, 2012July 26, 2018by Sarah Sheehan5 Comments

This week my new series on fashion models and sewing patterns continues with the great American model, Lauren Hutton. (See the first instalment, on Gia Carangi, here.)

World traveller, former Playboy Bunny, and daredevil Lauren Hutton (b. 1943) is an iconic figure in late Sixties and Seventies fashion. (Read Voguepedia’s bio here.) She was also a pioneer in transforming modelling into a lucrative career, signing the first exclusive, six-figure, annual cosmetics contract (with Revlon) in 1973. Hutton returned to modelling in her forties, so hers is still a familiar face, even for those who weren’t around for her early work. Recently she has been coming up as a forerunner for the current trend for gap-toothed models.

In the late 1960s, around the time her modelling career was taking off, Hutton did some work for McCall’s and Vogue Patterns. She posed for a few McCall’s New York Designers patterns that were released in 1967, including these designs by Larry Aldrich and Jacques Tiffeau:

McCall's 1018 by Larry Aldrich — McCall’s 1018 by Larry Aldrich (1967) Image via Etsy.

McCall's 1021 by Jacques Tiffeau — McCall’s 1021 by Jacques Tiffeau (1967) Image via the Vintage Patterns Wiki.

In the same year Hutton also modelled for Vogue patterns. Here she opens a two-page feature introducing Bill Blass to the new Vogue Americana line:

VPB Intl Winter 1967 — An Introduction to Bill Blass: Lauren Hutton models Vogue 1830 in Vogue Pattern Book, Winter 1967. Photo: Marc Slade.

Hutton appears on two more Bill Blass designs released in early 1969:

Vogue 2099 by Bill Blass (1969) Image via the Vintage Patterns Wiki.

Vogue 2100 by Bill Blass (1969) Image via the Vintage Patterns Wiki.

I also found two editorials featuring Hutton in a 1968 issue of Vogue Pattern Book. (My copy is the oversize international edition, so the scans are slightly cropped.) Both editorials promote non-designer patterns, so Hutton doesn’t appear on the pattern envelopes.

The first editorial shows the new wrap look. Here Hutton wears a wool fleece wrap coat, Vogue 7448:

Lauren Hutton models a 1960s coat pattern, Vogue 7448, in Vogue Pattern Book, Winter 1968. — “Fashion-Right Wraps,” Vogue Pattern Book, Winter 1968. Photo: Len Steckler.

(A quick search for this coat pattern turned up not one but two versions by sewing bloggers: Zoe of So, Zo and Tanit-Isis.)

The photo that opens this post is from the second, country-themed editorial, which was photographed by Ray Solowinski. (The design Hutton models beside the horse is Vogue 7426, “a biscuit coloured jumper in fabulously fake leather … lightly shaped to the body and loosely belted.”) In the first two photos Hutton models a tweed dress and fringed stole, Vogue 7439, and a camel-hair coat, Vogue 7416:

VPB Winter 1968b — Vogue Pattern Book, Winter 1968. Photo: Ray Solowinski.

Lauren Hutton models a camel-hair coat in Vogue Pattern Book, Winter 1968 — Vogue Pattern Book, Winter 1968. Photo: Ray Solowinski.

The last photo shows Vogue 7417, a wool flannel dress with “a perky sailor collar and bias binding of white flannel. The self-belt rides low on the hips, over a slightly A-lined skirt.”

Lauren Hutton with Louis Vuitton bag, photographed by Ray Solowinski for Vogue Pattern Book Winter 1968 — Vogue Pattern Book, Winter 1968. Photo: Ray Solowinski.

With its earth tones and natural look (despite the wig) this last shoot illustrates how, heading into the Seventies, Hutton’s strengths were the perfect fit.

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