Party like it's 1986

I've been invited to a fancy 40th anniversary 'do' later this year, and had the bright idea of making a dress for it from a 1986 pattern. I already have a few patterns from 1986, but none of them were suitable, so I started to investigate what else was available.

It seemed that there were a number of trends that year, and none of them were pretty. I can't remember what I wore around the time, and it's part of my 'lost decade' for which I have no photographs, but I don't recall wearing anything like these. (Although I probably did if it was the fashion, I've just erased it from my memory - with good reason!)

The shapeless, straight-down-from-the-shoulder look was clearly very popular, possibly because it was easy to sew. Many patterns included a nice horizontal line across the hips for emphasis.

For when you just want to look like a rectangle

If that wasn't bad enough, you could have a blousing effect instead of a belt.

What was it with sailor collars?

Or you could really go to town, and have both!

Just throw everything at it

Then there were the massive sleeves. These could be cut as one with the bodice.

Sleeves right down to the waist

With an exaggerated drop down the arm.

At least the sleeve seam would be easy to sew

Or set in, but heavily gathered and also batwing.

So. Much. Fabric.

And let's not forget the shoulders. By this time the slightly boxy 1940s revival shoulders of the early 1980s were old news.

When you have to go through doors sideways

After a fair amount of searching, I hadn't found anything I'd be willing to wear around the house, let alone out of it. Eventually I came across Vogue 9651. I liked the fitted shape, the pleats, and the V neck. The sleeves and shoulders, not so much, but I wondered if I could tone them down a bit.

Getting better

But I kept looking, and eventually found this.

We have a winner

Can we just take a minute to appreciate the utter 1986-ness of that fabric.

Those colours!

The photograph may have been distracting, but the design had potential. The line drawings on the back confirmed that this was something I could work with.

I'm going for view B

Unfortunately the only copy of the pattern available was a size 10, which I most definitely am not. Which is how 2026 became the year in which I will finally have to learn pattern grading!