Thursday, March 27, 2014

Holding out for a Hero

Aargh!  The Vintage Vogue pattern line is going downhill, fast.  I can sum up the new designs in one word:  boring.

Vogue 9000

Don’t get me wrong, this is a cute dress.  But such a basic design is easy to find in any modern pattern catalog.  If you are bothering to reproduce something vintage, it should be spectacular (in my opinion).  And as much as I love the styles of the 1950s, would it be possible to get a little variety every once in a while?

Vogue 9000

And then there is Vogue 8999.  What the heck were they thinking?!  This has got to be one of the most unflattering examples of a Vintage Vogue pattern I have ever seen.  Let Molly Ringwald cut this thing up, and leave that adorable pink polka dot vintage piece alone!  Pretty in pink this is NOT!  

Vogue 8999

The illustrator got so bored they did not even bother to put any color on their sketch!  But, to be fair, that bolero looks pretty cute.  

Vogue 8999

Most of the time I eagerly anticipate picking up the new patterns as soon as they go on sale, but I am certainly not going to rush out to buy any of these.  There are a few of the modern designs that interest me, but for now I think I will hold off. 

Vogue 8991

The Shaeffer jacket, for instance, is not my style, but I may have to peek inside at the directions to see if they are worth the price of purchase.  Couture details are something that I can get behind!  So where are the couture vintage pattern reproductions?!  I thought Vogue was for the advanced sewer - please leave the basic reproductions for the Butterick line.

13 comments:

  1. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who felt this way! I've seen so many beautiful vintage Vogue patterns that would be amazing to reproduce. This was just lazy.

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  2. I think the 40's were a lot more interesting than the 50's. We need some good 40's patterns.

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  3. Theyre SO boring! They're all variations of the average full skirt and simple bodice. Nothing unique about them at all. I wish they'd release some of the really intricate Vogue Special Designs from the 40s.

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  4. I agree,its vogue for goodness sake.Introduce some of the great embellishments etc from the 40's and 50's.Why are the modern versions so simplified.

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  5. I actually kind of like 8999. The silhouette is simple, yes, but I rather like the gored skirt and cut-on sleeves. The fabric color of the sample, however, is unfortunate.

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  6. Oh yes, I was so disappointed with the vintage offerings. They seem to just get simpler and simpler!

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  7. I agree these are not very inspiring.
    I was interested to see 8999 though. I've seen this style, unbelted and with a horizontal seam just below the bust and a skirt/waistpiece in many gores, quite regularly in mid-1950's magazines. I always worried a bit about the look on a real person. Without the obvious 'cinching points' of belt and seam, I wondered how flattering these designs could be on anyone not shaped like Dovima. Maybe the designers at the time just expected women to wear corsets or girdles to get the shape. I thing Vogue's photographs show us what happens if you don't.

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  8. Well stated. I once viewed Vogue as THE patterns for advancing sewing skills - unfortunately, not any more. For the most part, Vogue seems to have "dumbed down" its' line - is it a profit issue? IMO, at present there is little difference between Simplicity, McCalls and Vogue, and quite often one can find the same pattern featured in all three catalogs. Disappointing for those seeking new challenges.

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  9. I am a vintage girl to and I agree the patterns where irritating in the least. Not to mention when I first saw Vogue 9000 it made me immediately think of Butterick 6018 probably due to the cuff sleeves however V9000 collar is very unfaltering :-( Oh well

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  10. Usually just about any vintage (or re-release) Vogue pattern turns my knees to butter, but I must completely agree with you when it comes to 8999. Perhaps in a dark hue and on a very lanky model, and the rich (elegant) accessories, that would look okay, but I don't see it doing most folks any figure favours.

    ♥ Jessica

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  11. I agree and think it's worth powering through a vintage pattern to get the authentic look, or buying vintage pattern reissues from Eva Dress or Decades of Style, many of which are multi-sized.
    I like the new Claire Shaeffer Chanel-style jacket pattern, and if you get her "Couture Cardigan Jacket" book it comes with a DVD that goes through French jacket construction step-by-step. Susan Khalje is also working on a video series about constructing Chanel-style jackets, as well. I learned so much from Susan's "Couture Dress" course on Craftsy.com.

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  12. Tehee. Yeah, give the dress to Molly, she'd do something amazing with it I reckon!

    I tend not to pay too much attention to the major pattern companies and the styles they produce as I feel that the indie design community is so much more interesting in what they release. But, I do love a good pattern sale :)

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  13. Sadly, Vogue went to the dogs long ago. They desperately need some top tier designers. Their boho-frumpy Early Fall and Fall 2017 collections are shockingly awful. So bad that even Simplicity has better styles.

    They must have been desperate to have done V9266, a knockoff of the sky blue coat that Tramp woman wore last Inauguration Day. Glad I kept some of Vogue's timeless Paris Originals, American Designer and Couturier patterns that were stupidly discontinued. When necessary, they're easy to modify.

    That being said, I'm not a Vintage fan. Spare me the tacky 1950's rockabilly styles my expert seamstress-mother was obsessed with for decades past their sell-by date. Most of that boring bouffant stuff was worn to death by teenagers in its day. The monotonous, busy florals and border prints look like vintage Laura Ashley slip covers, not fashionable garments.

    However, I disagree with you about Vogue 8999 which I bought on sale. Made in a fabric that drapes well, it's very flattering on tall, trim figures. That style isn't intended for short or heavy builds. I also bought V8991 for some couture sewing practice. If the muslin turns out well, I'll do a Chanel-style LBJ to wear with faded blue jeans and a great white shirt.

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