VOGUE PATTERNS

With a roster of internationally acclaimed designers including Rachel Comey, Guy Laroche, Paco Peralta and Zandra Rhodes. Vogue Patterns is the leading source of licensed couture patterns with new designs added each season. All Vogue Patterns show a sewing skill rating, as well as the unique ‘Figure Flattery’ symbols, to assist in the selection of the most flattering style for different body shapes.

The History of Vogue Sewing Patterns

Vogue Patterns began when Rosa Payne strolled into the offices of Vogue magazine in 1905 and asked the team to produce a pattern she had made. According to Edna Woolman Chase, former editor-in-chief of American, British and French Vogue, the editors happened to be in a receptive mood and agreed to her request. Little did either woman know that this minor event would result in the development of what is the leader in designer-original patterns. Vogue became a publication whose influence in the international world of high fashion was unparalleled. The growth of Vogue Patterns mirrored Vogue’s remarkable success. 

Demand for the number of pattern styles became so strong, a separate department was formed. By May of 1920, the Vogue Patterns business had become so extensive that the patterns no longer appeared in Vogue magazine but were featured instead in their own publication. Published six times a year, the Vogue Pattern Book featured over 350 patterns. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, home-sewing’s popularity allowed Vogue Patterns to continue to expand its operation, both domestically and abroad. A successful British edition of the pattern book lead to the establishment of a London manufacturing and publishing facility. Several years later, a similar subsidiary opened in Australia, as did pattern distribution offices in cities across the United States.

While Vogue Pattern Book featured couturier patterns as early as 1937, these patterns were not exact reproductions of actual styles, but in 1949, Vogue Patterns announced A New Pattern Service — Paris Original Models Chosen From The Collections. The cover of that year’s April/May pattern book showed photographs of the styles chosen from the eight featured countries, among them Balmain, Schiaparelli, Lanvin and Jaques Fath.

It was the first-time originals from the Paris couture had been duplicated in pattern form. Vogue Patterns became the only pattern company licensed to produce designs from the world-leading couturiers, establishing a precedent that continues today. The most sought-after designs were from French designers until the mid-1970s when Italian and English designers, including the popular Bellville-Sassoon, were added. However, styles by Yves Saint Laurent and Hubert de Givenchy were still among the company’s bestsellers.

During the 1960s fashion’s trendsetters emulated the minimal elegance of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. American designers, with their clean-lined approach to dressing women, began to dazzle the press and public. Their rising importance led to the introduction in 1967 of Vogue’s ‘Americana’ patterns, a collection of signature styles that include Oscar de la Renta, Teal Traina, and Chester Weinberg. Customer favourites included Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Anne Klein, Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta. With the launch of the Vogue Individualist programme in 1984, Vogue Patterns created a showcase for emerging young designers whose international style appealed Very Easy Vogue to a more fashion-forward customer. Many of these designers, including Issey Miyake, Isaac Mizrahi and Claude Montana, later joined the ranks of fashions established innovators. In 1990, Vogue Individualist was replaced by Vogue Attitudes, which introduced home sewists to the current generation of fashion talent. Designers like Anna Sui, Byron Lars and Isabel Toledo had a unique approach to addressing the needs of their specific customers, and were attuned to the demands of busy, clothes-conscious women of the 90s.

Now Vogue Patterns are distributed around the world, bought via catalogues in retail shops or online. Collecting historic copies of our patterns is a hobby for many enthusiasts and our reissues of Vintage Vogue sewing patterns reintroduce the glorious age of fashion and sewing skill to the modern market.

Are Vogue sewing patterns difficult?

Very Easy Vogue patterns are easy to sew and tailored to beginners. All other Vogue sewing patterns have a difficulty rating printed on the envelope back which you can view before you buy. Vogue sewing patterns feature in-depth instructions which may look a little overwhelming to a beginner but actually include extra detail to guarantee sewing success. Couture and advanced designs often feature a large quantity of pattern pieces and extra construction steps which can boost your sewing skills.

The lasting popularity of Vogue Patterns

Vogue Patterns are considered high-end patterns due to their partnership with the Vogue brand and exclusive designer brand collaborations. The level of detail in their pattern construction and instruction guides make them special to sew and collect.