It's full-on 'running around doing stuff with no time for anything creative' season for me just now, so here's another rummage through my Vogue Pattern Book archive. Last Friday I went for Christmas lunch with my former work colleagues (most of us are retired now), so I thought that I would look at what I could have been making from Vogue patterns when I started that job, way back in December 1989.
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| Party like it's 1989 |
There are fewer evening clothes than I was expecting; perhaps the assumption was that readers would have already finished their party frocks - or at least chosen the pattern and supplies - by the time this issue came out. I'm intrigued by the 'new attitudes' to evening dressing; if frilly sleeves and large bows don't count as
"excessive embellishments", then I hate to think what does!
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| 2409 by Albert Nipon, and the new rules of the game |
This bears some resemblance to New Look 6000. I wore my
latest version on Friday, so I was on trend - for 35 years ago!
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| 2408, by Belville Sassoon |
This is very similar, apart from the ginormous sleeves. Clearly the combination of pleating at the waist and a faux-wrapover skirt was A Thing.
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| 2405, by Ungaro |
I did have a party dress very like this in 1989, albeit with a straight hem, and not made from a Vogue pattern.
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| 7614, in velvet and taffeta |
I also had a couple of work dresses with the same silhouette as the white two-piece top right. What I definitely didn't have though was a workplace in the style beloved by the Vogue Career line. Chic minimalism definitely wasn't part of the décor in the I.T. department of my local electricity board!
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| Dressing for Vogue Career land |
Something else which I didn't have was a wardrobe of beige. I'm guessing that this was 'quiet luxury' for the late eighties, but there's a
lot of beige in this issue.
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| Beige |
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| More beige |
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| Even more beige |
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| Stop it now |
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| Ooh look, grey |
I must admit that as someone who favours deep, strong colours, this gives me the heebie-jeebies. But that's the beauty of making your own clothes; your colour scheme is limited only by the fabric available.
Well, didn't that bring back memories!
ReplyDeleteI recall lots of jewel tones...had a cherry red very thick Melton winter coat in the minimalist one-button style, and a green corduroy Marks and Spencer puffed sleeve jacket and dirndl skirt that I loved.
But yes, beige and camel were definitely au Courant. Had several lovely camel jackets, including one of those oversized ones, and worn with white, felt elegant. Beige room furnishings were a thing, too.
Thank you for taking us back a few decades!
Natalie across the pond
Thank you Natalie, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
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